St. Gallen business game

Commuter papers Tagblatt Medien is considering a new product to counter 20 Minuten. 20 Minuten's expansion into eastern Switzerland is something Tagblatt Medien has always said it is sufficiently prepared for with its free weekly Anzeiger. But now Daniel Ehrat, publishing director of the Anzeiger, is for the first time suggesting the launch of a new title as a defensive option. Specifically, he said that Tagblatt Medien will decide this week at a strategy meeting whether it will submit another offer to SBB for around 100 box locations - for the Anzeiger, whose publication frequency "will certainly not be changed" - or, "which is quite possible, for another product". However, he did not want to give any more precise details and said that Ehrat met with SBB on May 11. He wanted to know whether he could bid for the Anzeiger, even though it does not appear daily - contrary to what was requested in the tender. SBB did not give a clear answer, but extended the submission deadline to May 17, says Ehrat. Beat-Gaudenz Schwarz from SBB did not want to comment on the meeting with Ehrat.
(mk)