For the time being only on weekdays
Tobias Trevisan puts the NZZ's interest in *Die Weltwoche* into perspective
Tobias Trevisan puts NZZ's interest in Weltwoche into perspectiveBy Markus KnöpfliIn the industry, it was expected that the Board of Directors (BoD) of Neue Zürcher Zeitung AG (NZZ) would decide on March 17 whether to launch a Sunday newspaper - with or without Weltwoche. However, this was not the case, and according to Tobias Trevisan, NZZ Publishing Director Newspapers, this will not be the case in the near future.
"On March 17, the board of directors of the NZZ will decide on the launch of the Sunday newspaper," wrote Facts on February 8, 2001, speculating that the NZZ would buy Weltwoche and turn it into a Sunday newspaper.
But Tobias Trevisan, Publishing Director Newspapers at NZZ, asked by WerbeWoche on March 19 about the outcome of the board meeting, described the Facts report as a hoax. No decision had been made about a Sunday newspaper project, nor had the NZZ Board of Directors met, he said. It is true that a working group, of which he is a member, is currently examining whether the NZZ can and wants to produce a Sunday title. "However, the work of this group has not yet been completed, and neither calculations nor scenarios are available, which is why a Sunday newspaper project will not be a topic at the next Board meetings," says Trevisan.
In November, however, NZZ deputy editor-in-chief Kenneth Angst signaled to the Tages-Anzeiger that a "cooperation" with Weltwoche would be possible for an NZZ Sunday newspaper. It was soon rumored in the industry that the NZZ was considering buying the title. Trevisan notes that Angst made his statement on the basis of a "rough study" that examined where the NZZ could become active in publishing. It did not contain any concrete proposals, at most statements about which existing titles could be affected by a certain activity. For example, Weltwoche was also mentioned in the Sunday market. But it was only on the basis of this rough study that the NZZ decided to investigate the Sunday market, says Trevisan, describing the significance of the study. He adds: "Because there are no proposals yet, we don't know whether we have an interest in Weltwoche. That is why we have not yet discussed a sale or the price of Weltwoche with the Basel media group."
Now Tamedia and Ringier, both owners of a Sunday paper, have also expressed interest in Weltwoche - possibly just to drive up the price and prevent competitor NZZ from entering the Sunday market. Is Trevisan now trying to play down the actual NZZ interest in Weltwoche with his statements? Trevisan: "I don't know the interests of the other publishers. But the unrest surrounding Weltwoche is not something we want. On our part, however, this has led to more open information about our Sunday project."
"On March 17, the board of directors of the NZZ will decide on the launch of the Sunday newspaper," wrote Facts on February 8, 2001, speculating that the NZZ would buy Weltwoche and turn it into a Sunday newspaper.
But Tobias Trevisan, Publishing Director Newspapers at NZZ, asked by WerbeWoche on March 19 about the outcome of the board meeting, described the Facts report as a hoax. No decision had been made about a Sunday newspaper project, nor had the NZZ Board of Directors met, he said. It is true that a working group, of which he is a member, is currently examining whether the NZZ can and wants to produce a Sunday title. "However, the work of this group has not yet been completed, and neither calculations nor scenarios are available, which is why a Sunday newspaper project will not be a topic at the next Board meetings," says Trevisan.
In November, however, NZZ deputy editor-in-chief Kenneth Angst signaled to the Tages-Anzeiger that a "cooperation" with Weltwoche would be possible for an NZZ Sunday newspaper. It was soon rumored in the industry that the NZZ was considering buying the title. Trevisan notes that Angst made his statement on the basis of a "rough study" that examined where the NZZ could become active in publishing. It did not contain any concrete proposals, at most statements about which existing titles could be affected by a certain activity. For example, Weltwoche was also mentioned in the Sunday market. But it was only on the basis of this rough study that the NZZ decided to investigate the Sunday market, says Trevisan, describing the significance of the study. He adds: "Because there are no proposals yet, we don't know whether we have an interest in Weltwoche. That is why we have not yet discussed a sale or the price of Weltwoche with the Basel media group."
Now Tamedia and Ringier, both owners of a Sunday paper, have also expressed interest in Weltwoche - possibly just to drive up the price and prevent competitor NZZ from entering the Sunday market. Is Trevisan now trying to play down the actual NZZ interest in Weltwoche with his statements? Trevisan: "I don't know the interests of the other publishers. But the unrest surrounding Weltwoche is not something we want. On our part, however, this has led to more open information about our Sunday project."
