The big ones are now knocking on the door of the small ones
The Basler Mediengruppe, Berner Tagblatt Medien, and the Zürich Express (ZE) are considering applying for membership in the Association of Swiss Free Newspapers (VSGZ) for their free publications.
The Basler Mediengruppe, Berner Tagblatt Medien and Zürich Express (ZE) are considering applying for membership of the Association of Swiss Free Newspapers (VSGZ) for their free titles.Talks to this effect are underway, as ZE publishing director Heinz Krebs told WerbeWoche. The aim is to create a joint Internet advertising platform. This online package is to be offered to one or more strong online providers for placement. Conversely, the big free titles expect VSGZ to create a separate class for them within the association.
VSGZ President Willy Grüninger confirmed this when asked. He himself thinks an expansion of the VSGZ is necessary, but there are members who are panic-stricken by large publishers. If, however, the membership of the big three - with a first and a second VSGZ league if necessary - did not materialize, they would probably found a second association, Grüninger said.
The publishing houses of the three free titles have so far treated the VSGZ with a certain amount of disdain. The most recent example is the industry solution dictated by PrintOnline for digital ad delivery. VSGZ membership of the three is also explosive because VSGZ is now considering setting up a favorable competitor to PrintOnline (see page 35). (mk)
VSGZ President Willy Grüninger confirmed this when asked. He himself thinks an expansion of the VSGZ is necessary, but there are members who are panic-stricken by large publishers. If, however, the membership of the big three - with a first and a second VSGZ league if necessary - did not materialize, they would probably found a second association, Grüninger said.
The publishing houses of the three free titles have so far treated the VSGZ with a certain amount of disdain. The most recent example is the industry solution dictated by PrintOnline for digital ad delivery. VSGZ membership of the three is also explosive because VSGZ is now considering setting up a favorable competitor to PrintOnline (see page 35). (mk)
