Ringier invests in TV business and starts cooperation with CNN
The Ringier Group has further expanded its presence in the digital markets. The media company thus occupies a leading position throughout Europe. From 2020, the Blick Group will launch into the TV business.
The strong increase in viewer numbers in the video segment and the demand from the advertising industry for moving images have prompted the Blick Group to launch its own digital channel, Ringier announced in Zurich on Wednesday. Among other things, the focus will be on national reporting and breaking news - previously the domain of SRF television.
Cooperation with CNN
In the international news business, Blick TV is teaming up with the globally active American news channel CNN. This collaboration gives Blick TV access to CNN content for the Swiss and Liechtenstein markets. It also gives the station access to CNN's global news network.
With Jonas Projer, who most recently served as head of the talk desk and host of Swiss TV's "Arena" program, Blick TV is getting a well-known draw. Projer will lead the Blick TV team as editor-in-chief. He will take up his post on May 1, 2019. Two TV studios will be directly integrated into the News Room at the Ringier Press House in Zurich. The News Room will be remodeled accordingly in the coming months.
Further increase in operating profit
The Ringier Group closed the 2018 financial year well in a difficult media environment. As in the industry as a whole, a strongly growing market for digital marketplaces was offset by significantly declining revenues in the traditional distribution, advertising and print businesses. Revenues at Group level stagnated at just over one billion Swiss francs.
Ringier improved its operating profit for the fourth time in a row. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) increased to 113.0 (previous year 110.6) million Swiss francs. This corresponds to a margin of 11.3 percent. The digital share of Ebitda increased by 5 percentage points to 71 percent - a top figure in the European media environment. (SDA)
