Tamedia with more sales and less profit
Tamedia increased its sales in the first half of 2008, but achieved a slightly lower profit. The figures of the acquired Espace Media Groupe were included for the first time.
The Zurich-based publishing house Tamedia increased its sales in the first half of 2008 by 32.1 percent compared to the previous year to CHF 472.8 million. The recently acquired Bern-based Espace Media Groupe made a particular contribution to this, as the Group announced in a press release on Tuesday. On the other hand, the overall result fell by 4.4 percent to 49 million francs. This was due to the high level of investment in the new free newspaper News, the commuter newspaper 20 Minuten and the launch of L'essentiel and the online service Newsnetz.
The potential of the merger with Espace Media Groupe has not yet been exhausted, Tamedia spokesman Christoph Zimmer told the news agency SDA. Tamedia's goal of achieving a level of profitability comparable to Tamedia's margins with Espace Media Groupe in the medium term still seems realistic. The integration of the acquired media group is progressing rapidly, according to the press release.
Advertising investments suffered a setback due to the weakening economic situation, particularly towards the end of the semester. The 2008 European Football Championships in Switzerland and Austria apparently also had a negative impact on advertising expenditure. Advertising clients brought their products to consumers in June with sponsorship or other forms of advertising than advertisements. Nevertheless, after a decline in June, cumulative sales of job advertisements are still above the comparable figure for the previous year.
Sales in the Newspapers division rose by 25 percent to CHF 337.2 million. In addition to Espace Media's publications, 20 Minuten and Thurgauer Zeitung also contributed to this growth. While Finanz und Wirtschaft remained stable, Tages-Anzeiger, Sonntagszeitung, Alpha and Stellen-Anzeiger recorded lower sales than in the previous year.
Magazine sales grew by 37.9% to CHF 54.8 million, thanks in part to Schweizer Familie and car magazines. Electronic media also performed well, with sales up 38.7 percent to CHF 38.8 million. The main contributors to this were the newly included Bernese radio station Capital FM, the local TV station Tele Bärn and the real estate platform Homegate.
In the Services division (printing and delivery services), sales rose by 51.1 percent to CHF 169.7 million. The Espace printing center and the Bern-based delivery organization Bevo made a particularly positive contribution to this growth.
The potential of the merger with Espace Media Groupe has not yet been exhausted, Tamedia spokesman Christoph Zimmer told the news agency SDA. Tamedia's goal of achieving a level of profitability comparable to Tamedia's margins with Espace Media Groupe in the medium term still seems realistic. The integration of the acquired media group is progressing rapidly, according to the press release.
Advertising investments suffered a setback due to the weakening economic situation, particularly towards the end of the semester. The 2008 European Football Championships in Switzerland and Austria apparently also had a negative impact on advertising expenditure. Advertising clients brought their products to consumers in June with sponsorship or other forms of advertising than advertisements. Nevertheless, after a decline in June, cumulative sales of job advertisements are still above the comparable figure for the previous year.
Sales in the Newspapers division rose by 25 percent to CHF 337.2 million. In addition to Espace Media's publications, 20 Minuten and Thurgauer Zeitung also contributed to this growth. While Finanz und Wirtschaft remained stable, Tages-Anzeiger, Sonntagszeitung, Alpha and Stellen-Anzeiger recorded lower sales than in the previous year.
Magazine sales grew by 37.9% to CHF 54.8 million, thanks in part to Schweizer Familie and car magazines. Electronic media also performed well, with sales up 38.7 percent to CHF 38.8 million. The main contributors to this were the newly included Bernese radio station Capital FM, the local TV station Tele Bärn and the real estate platform Homegate.
In the Services division (printing and delivery services), sales rose by 51.1 percent to CHF 169.7 million. The Espace printing center and the Bern-based delivery organization Bevo made a particularly positive contribution to this growth.
