The Landbote: Tamedia interested after all
As reported by the NZZ am Sonntag, contrary to last week’s speculation, Tamedia is indeed interested in acquiring the Winterthur-based daily newspaper *Der Landbote*. In addition, two other potential buyers have been mentioned.
Schweiz am Sonntag speculated last week that since Tamedia was not interested in the Landbote, the gates were wide open for Christoph Blocher and a new newspaper group (Werbewoche.ch reported). However, Blocher expressed himself to the NZZ am Sonntag with a disappointed undertone: It was common knowledge that the Landbote was de facto owned by the Tamedia publishing house - thoughts on the subject were therefore superfluous for him.
Tamedia is said to have made a purchase offer, but it was too low for the owner family. If Blocher or a third party were to place a higher bid, Tamedia would be allowed to buy at that price thanks to its right of first refusal. So it seems that Christoph Blocher has no interest in the role of price driver. Because Tamedia - contrary to last week's reports - is not leaving the Winterthur field to him without a fight. This is also confirmed by Tamedia spokesman Christoph Zimmer: "Should the owner family decide to sell, it is clear that Tamedia is one of the possible partners."
The NZZ am Sonntag brings another interested party into play - the NZZ Group is also said to have submitted a bid. But the latter does not want to comment on its own newspaper. There is speculation, however, that Tamedia would have much more trouble with the NZZ as a buyer than with Blocher, who would have to reckon with a subscriber slump in the red-green city of Winterthur (as was the case in Basel at the time) - in the event of an NZZ takeover, the Tages-Anzeiger would not be able to take over any migrating subscribers.
And last but not least, Peter Wanner from AZ Medien is also brought into play. Because he would "not a priori say no" to the Landbote if asked. Wanner is in competition with Blocher in Basel and seems to have no interest in expanding Blocher's media power. Industry insiders suspect that it was no coincidence that it was one of Wanner's newspapers that brought Blocher's supposed intentions in Winterthur into the conversation. In this way, the Ziegler heirs were to be dissuaded from selling to Blocher. (hae)
