Farewell to commuters
Free newspapers The Bernese bear has done its job: it left the commuters to 20 Minuten - and turned its attention to households in Bern and the surrounding area.
Free newspapers The Berner Bär has gone into reverse: it left the commuters to 20 Minuten - and turned its attention to households in Bern and the surrounding area.The Berner Bär in reverse gear: around two years ago, the newspaper, which still had a free circulation of 14,000 copies in 2001, began to dismantle its boxes in Bern, withdraw its colporteurs and reduce its circulation first to 136,000 and then even to 124,000 copies. This was done without much ado and for two reasons: Alongside the daily 20 Minuten, the Berner Bär (BB), which was only published twice a day, had a hard time with commuters. In addition, BB's parent company Espace Media Groupe was interested in acquiring a stake in 20 Minuten together with Tamedia. So instead of trying to make it more difficult for its possible future sister paper 20 Minuten (see box) to enter the market, BB withdrew from the commuter front without a fight and made do with households as its readership, explains publishing director Jürg Lehmann. The reduction in boxes was just one consequence of this. A second: a year ago, BB increased its circulation - again without much fanfare. Specifically, in the second half of the week, a large print run with an additional 20,000 copies was introduced in order to serve the nine municipalities of Allmendingen, Biglen, Grosshöchstetten, Konolfingen, Münsingen, Neuenegg, Oberdiessbach, Rubigen and Worb, as Lehmann explains. Around 40,000 BB copies were already being distributed in the communities around Berne, but the large print run will now give them even more weight, says publishing director Lehmann. What is striking is that the BB now covers almost the same area as the official gazette combination ARBplus, which also includes the Anzeiger Region Bern (ARB). The ARB from Bund Verlag and the BB used to be fierce competitors, but with Espace Media's 40 percent stake in Bund Verlag at the beginning of 2004, they became half-sisters. Albert P. Stäheli, CEO of Espace Media, does not want the large BB circulation to be understood as being against ARB or ARBplus. It was only introduced at the request of the retail trade and was geared geographically to its catchment area. A strategy against the ARB would also not make sense because the two publications complement rather than compete with each other in the advertising market. The ARB is primarily strong in real estate advertisements and obituaries, while the BB is the paper for trade and retail.
In short: The BB has been published for a year now with 124,000 copies in the first half of the week and 14,000 copies in the second half of the week. Both circulations have been valid since the beginning of 2004 and, according to Lehmann, will only be confirmed by the next circulation certification. The large print run has not yet been reflected in the advertising rates, so advertisers have received a supplement. However, this will change from 2005: A 1/1 page in 4 colors in normal circulation will now cost 9298 francs, in large circulation 9386 francs.
Incidentally, the BB editions have always been published at different times: The city editions are delivered to mailboxes in Berne by 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, while the country editions are delivered early on Wednesdays and Fridays. This is partly due to the evening sale: This traditionally takes place in the city on Thursday and in the country on Friday.
Appeals Commission will decideThe Competition Commission (ComCo) rejected Espace Media's plan to acquire a 17.5 percent stake in 20 Minuten.
As a result, Espace Media filed a complaint with the Appeals Commission for Competition Issues in March. This is still pending, confirmed Jürg Dubs, judge and spokesman for the Appeals Commission. However, he did not want to specify a time limit.
On average, such proceedings take 9 to 15 months. In addition, the appeal can still be taken to the Federal Supreme Court afterwards.
ARB submission in December The ARB is published by the Verein Region Bern (VRB), which consists of 14 municipalities in the canton and city of Bern. It issues the license for the ARB.
The license is held by Bund Verlag, which pays the VRB CHF 3.7 million annually. The contract between VRB and Bund Verlag expires at the end of 2005, and VRB is currently preparing a new invitation to tender for the license. VRB Managing Director Isabelle Meyer is holding out the prospect of this in December. According to Albert P. Stäheli, CEO of Espace Media, it remains to be seen whether Bund Verlag or Espace Media will take part in the tender. (mk)
Markus Knöpfli
In short: The BB has been published for a year now with 124,000 copies in the first half of the week and 14,000 copies in the second half of the week. Both circulations have been valid since the beginning of 2004 and, according to Lehmann, will only be confirmed by the next circulation certification. The large print run has not yet been reflected in the advertising rates, so advertisers have received a supplement. However, this will change from 2005: A 1/1 page in 4 colors in normal circulation will now cost 9298 francs, in large circulation 9386 francs.
Incidentally, the BB editions have always been published at different times: The city editions are delivered to mailboxes in Berne by 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, while the country editions are delivered early on Wednesdays and Fridays. This is partly due to the evening sale: This traditionally takes place in the city on Thursday and in the country on Friday.
Appeals Commission will decideThe Competition Commission (ComCo) rejected Espace Media's plan to acquire a 17.5 percent stake in 20 Minuten.
As a result, Espace Media filed a complaint with the Appeals Commission for Competition Issues in March. This is still pending, confirmed Jürg Dubs, judge and spokesman for the Appeals Commission. However, he did not want to specify a time limit.
On average, such proceedings take 9 to 15 months. In addition, the appeal can still be taken to the Federal Supreme Court afterwards.
ARB submission in December The ARB is published by the Verein Region Bern (VRB), which consists of 14 municipalities in the canton and city of Bern. It issues the license for the ARB.
The license is held by Bund Verlag, which pays the VRB CHF 3.7 million annually. The contract between VRB and Bund Verlag expires at the end of 2005, and VRB is currently preparing a new invitation to tender for the license. VRB Managing Director Isabelle Meyer is holding out the prospect of this in December. According to Albert P. Stäheli, CEO of Espace Media, it remains to be seen whether Bund Verlag or Espace Media will take part in the tender. (mk)
Markus Knöpfli
