The Wanner family takes over 100 percent of CH Media

AZ Medien is taking over 100 percent of CH Media Holding as of April 1, 2026. Previously, AZ Medien held 65 percent of the shares and NZZ Regionalmedien 35 percent. This means that the Wanner family will have full entrepreneurial responsibility for CH Media in future.

"With this step, we are concluding a strategic process that has taken place over the last eight years and creating a stable framework for the further development of CH Media," says CEO Michael Wanner. Together with his siblings Florian and Anna, he took over the family business in the fifth generation at the end of 2025. Publisher and Chairman of the Board of Directors Peter Wanner transferred his stake in AZ Medien to his children as part of a succession plan.

Improvement in operating result

In the 2025 financial year, CH Media generated sales of CHF 406 million, which corresponds to a decline of 1% compared to the previous year. The operating result (EBIT) improved to CHF 14.2 million and net profit to CHF 39.9 million. CH Media thus successfully completed its targeted financial recovery.

The operating result improved by around CHF 9 million compared to the previous year. Strict cost management, portfolio adjustments in the first quarter of 2025 and an almost stable sales trend formed the basis for the significant increase in EBIT. One-off proceeds from the sale of properties led to a significant increase in net profit.

While CH Media achieved strong sales growth in its print business and digital activities, the ongoing shift of advertising budgets to international tech platforms reduced advertising sales in the traditional media categories. The acquisition of the ZT Medien titles also helped to stabilize sales.

As in previous years, one-off investments in the development of an in-house IT infrastructure had a negative impact on the result. CH Media successfully completed the build-up in October 2025, thus laying the foundations for a sustainable transformation of the business.

Strong market position and targeted further development

In addition to the economic stabilization, CH Media further strengthened its market position in the various media categories. For example, "Schweiz am Wochenende" increased its reach by 1.2 percent to 1.04 million people in a declining market environment, thus consolidating its position as the most widely read newspaper in German-speaking Switzerland. CH Media also further extended its leading position in the private radio market. The daily reach of the national and regional station group grew by 12% to 1.83 million people.

In regional journalism, CH Media will focus its activities on the core areas of north-western, eastern and central Switzerland and the greater Zurich area in future. For this reason, the company sold the Bernese stations TeleBärn and Radio Bern1 to the Gassmann Groupe at the end of February 2026. At the same time, CH Media is further expanding its service business in the regional radio and TV sector, as both stations remain important partners. CH Media is also systematically driving forward its marketing business. The bundling of all-media and content marketing expertise under the new "CH Media Mind" brand in mid-2025 forms a central basis for this.

CH Media is also continuing to make targeted investments in media offerings and modern printing infrastructure. The company is making a substantial investment in printing at its main site in Aarau. The most modern and efficient newspaper printing plant in Switzerland will be built there by 2027. CH Media is also developing the streaming service oneplus into the leading Swiss streaming aggregator. The integration of Paramount+ was recently followed by a further cooperation with RTL+. CH Media is also planning a new digital offering for the current financial year.