Thick mail on Sunday

Distribution I Not only in Switzerland, but also in Germany, Deutsche Post is opening up new channels for press distribution: Deutsche Post is launching a three-month pilot project - initially exclusively with the magazine Der Spiegel: from June 3 in Düsseldorf and from August 19 in Hamburg, the magazines will be delivered to subscribers on Sundays; the magazine will also be available at Post outlets that are open on Sundays. Der Spiegel, which is printed on Saturday mornings, generally goes on sale on Mondays. Sunday, and therefore more up-to-date, delivery has only been available for a few years, but only in Berlin, Frankfurt and Lübeck - in each case via private delivery organizations. Until now, the expansion of Sunday sales has always failed due to the high costs involved, and it is no coincidence that Swiss Post is now getting involved. Due to the impending abolition of the letter monopoly, the company is looking for new sources of revenue and is considering using its infrastructure on Sundays as well. Talks are underway with other customers, said a Post spokesperson.
Swiss Post also wants to increase press distribution in Switzerland, not on Sundays so far, but by expanding existing channels or opening additional ones. Last week, it announced that it intends to sell selected press titles in 450 of the approximately 2,400 post offices in the future. It is also in the process of setting up an early delivery service for newspapers in Zurich, Basel and Berne via its subsidiary Direct Mail Company - without publishers and not exactly to their delight (see also adjacent article). The background to this expansion in Switzerland is likely to be the imminent abolition of the letter monopoly, the uncertain future of press subsidies and the liberalization of the postal market.   
 
Markus Knöpfli