The German broadcasting group Prosieben Sat.1 has surprisingly reduced its losses significantly in the first quarter. As the company announced on Thursday, the loss was reduced from EUR 7.9 million in the same period last year to EUR 1.7 million.
Analysts had expected an average loss of 21 million euros. Turnover fell from 729 to 627 million euros. Nevertheless, the TV group is still not venturing an outlook for the current year. According to the Group, the difficult economic environment does not allow for a more precise forecast for 2009.
"We have achieved a satisfactory result in a difficult environment, but will continue to make great efforts to secure the company's operating performance," commented Group CEO Thomas Ebeling on the published figures.

Filming undesirable: North Korea intends to try the two detained US journalists on June 4. This was announced by the leadership in Pyongyang on Thursday. The two are said to have crossed the border and filmed without permission.
The reporters from the US-based channel Current TV were arrested in March on the North Korean-Chinese border river Tumen. North Korea accused them of illegally crossing the border. According to South Korean media, however, they were filming on the Chinese side when they were arrested by North Korean border guards. According to the US State Department, it is trying to resolve the matter through diplomatic channels.
The already tense relations between North Korea and the USA have recently cooled further. The USA accuses the communist leadership in Pyongyang of trying to conceal the test of a long-range missile, which could also be equipped with nuclear warheads, behind its recent satellite launch.

The "Arena" on Friday, May 15, 2009, will be hosted by Sonja Hasler. This will be the first time that the TV political debate has been led by a woman. The "Rundschau" presenter will regularly deputize for Reto Brennwald in future.

And yet another print magazine dies. The interview magazine Galore will appear for the last time on June 10. In future, Galore will be continued on the Internet, as Horizont.net writes on Tuesday. The reason given by Dialog-Verlag for this measure is the unfavorable development in the advertising business and the generally difficult economic situation.
On June 29, the brand will then be available on the Internet at Galore.de will be continued. Sascha Krüger, one of the founders of the magazine, will take over the management of the portal.
The magazine was launched in 2003. Initially, issues were published every three months with a circulation of 100,000 copies. From 2005, the magazine was published monthly with an increased circulation of 140,000 copies. Initially, the magazine only printed multi-page interviews, but over time more and more book, film and music reviews were added. This was probably to open up the field for advertising customers.

Anyone who has ever visited the kitchen of a busy restaurant knows that the atmosphere there is in no way the same as the dining area. Even more so than on a building site or in a football dressing room, communication takes place in the clearest language - regardless of the price level of the establishment. British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is currently proving that the vocabulary acquired there is very difficult to shed: With his show "In Devil's Kitchen", he has now incurred the wrath of media regulator Ofcom. As the Guardian reports, Ramsay and his co-stars managed to use the F-word and different variations of it 115 times in the first 40 minutes of the show. "Although swearing has now become something of a trademark of the Ramsay style, the sheer scale of the misconduct in the current case is a clear breach of current broadcasting regulations," reads a statement. The regulatory authority was particularly surprised by the frequency of the registered swear words. In terms of the frequency and harshness of the language used, the programme broadcast on 30 January clearly overshadowed previous editions, Ofcom criticized. Even fans of the popular TV chef, who are apparently used to a lot by now, were surprised by the amount of swearing. At least Ramsay cannot be accused of not being authentic. By the way: Ramsay used to be a professional footballer.

Not even the bright sun was able to take away the GfM guests' desire to learn and listen last Wednesday, as the well-attended Kongresshaus showed. During a whole day, the participants learned in comprehensive lectures how to successfully implement innovations, for example in the financial market or in the service sector.
There is still potential when it comes to implementing ideas. Often, the projects fail at first, which leads to a considerable competitive disadvantage compared to the competitors. According to GfM, the difficulty lies in "evaluating the right ideas, implementing them on time and launching them successfully on the market. Good ideas are rarely lacking.
Business leaders such as Google CEO Andreas Schönenberger and SBB CEO Andreas Meyer showed the guests how ideas can be successfully implemented. They presented the decisive forces and influencing factors that innovation experts, companies and also buyers consider to be new trends.
The networking aperitif rounded off the conference. Most of the participants skipped it, preferring instead to go outside into the fresh air - and sunshine.

(Text: Adriana Zilic, Photos: Elisabeth Real)

Walter Lüthi, CEO Betty Bossi, Susanne Furrer, Deputy Managing Director Betty Bossi Publishing, and Jean-Marc Grand, Managing Director of GfM (from left).

Hans-Jörg Aerni, CEO Seetal Elco, Marco Hartmann, Post Mail, Christian Huldi, Dr. Huldi Management, and Stephan Feige, Htp St. Gallen (from left).

Jost Wirz (l.), Wirz Werbung, and Patrick Pfäffli, Input Unternehmens- und Marketingberatung.

Mirko Jazbec, Htp St. Gallen, and Roman Burch of Wegelin & Co.

Marc Zehnder with Nimet Cihangir, both from Kleistermeister Eventsolution.

Simone Thomas, IVF Hartmann, with Oliver Gassmann, Director University of St. Gallen.

A. Etienne Schüpfer (l.), MARS Switzerland, Alessandro Rigoni, Nestlé Suisse.

GfM moderator Roger de Weck, Riccarda Mecklenburg, VR delegate m+m Media, Ulrich H. Moser, GfM President, and Christian Schmid, CS Media (from left).

Philipp Wetzel (l.), Adcom, with Ivan Schultheiss, APG.

Urs Rueb (l.), Mediaplus, and Francisco Moreno, Swiss Post.

Marco F. Taborelli (l.) of Marco Taborelli Consulting and Pascal Perraudin, GfK.

Evelyne Vogel (l.) with Sara Salzmann-Guntern, both GfK Switzerland.

On Tuesday, the French National Assembly passed the anti-piracy law. The law was initiated under President Nicolas Sarkozy against illegal piracy on the Internet and was rejected just a few weeks ago, according to Pressetext.ch. Now approved by MPs by 296 votes to 233, the new legal provision allows users who illegally download content from the internet to be blocked from the web for up to twelve months after the third offense.
However, the new law is highly controversial. Socialist MP Patrick Bloche told BBC News that the new law was dangerous, useless, inefficient and very risky. For example, the possibility of computer hackers misusing users' identities and thus punishing the wrong people cannot be ruled out. In addition to technical problems for implementation, the law also raises legal questions. According to Blick.ch, the opposition Socialists, consumer advocates and the EU Parliament see the implementation of the new legal provision as an attack on civil liberties.

Cineman is launching what it claims is Switzerland's first video-on-demand (VOD) service without a basic fee or set-top box at Cineman.com. The operator of the new service for film fans is Cinergy AG, which is also behind the cinema portal Cineman.ch. 200 Hollywood movies, classics and documentaries can be downloaded from Cineman.com to your home screen at the click of a mouse. The titles in DVD quality can be rented or purchased. The selection of films is constantly being expanded and is expected to include around 1,000 titles by the end of the year. Thanks to advertising financing, various titles will also be offered for free download this year. The launch with Hollywood films will soon be followed by Swiss and European independent films.

AZ Medien AG suffered a slump in profits for the second year in a row in 2008. Profit plummeted by 89 percent to 1.2 million Swiss francs. The media company intends to refrain from paying a dividend. The financial year was "unsatisfactory", said publisher Peter Wanner in an interview with AZ on Wednesday. The reasons for this were the economic crisis and the slump in advertising revenue.
Savings in the high single-digit millions
In order to improve the operating result, the company decided on "drastic cost-cutting measures" and a reduction in staff. At the end of 2008, AZ Medien employed 809 people. This corresponds to 643 full-time positions. According to Wanner, a "rigorous savings program" was introduced at Basellandschaftliche Zeitung (bz) and Solothurner Zeitung (SZ). He did not provide any further details. Both titles belong to the Mittelland Zeitung (MZ) group. The AZ Group took over 100 percent of the SZ and its head pages with retroactive effect from January 1, 2009.
Wanner expects savings of a "high single-digit million amount". The aim is to achieve a balanced result in the current year, said the publisher. AZ Medien is solidly financed with an equity ratio of 55 percent.
Pressing project costs at Sonntag and A-z.ch
The costs of Sonntag, which was launched in September 2007, and the project costs of the online platform A-z.ch also weighed on the business result, as AZ Medien announced in a press release. In 2007, profits had already fallen by 24.2 percent. The newspaper publishers achieved an operating income of CHF 119.1 million in 2008. This corresponds to 59 percent of the practically constant total operating income of CHF 201.2 million. The operating result fell by 67.4 percent to CHF 2.6 million.
At regional television station Tele M1, the result was below expectations, as was reported. The media company had already expected to receive fee money in 2008. There were delays due to an objection that has since been settled. Radio Argovia, on the other hand, achieved a good result.
Negotiations with Publicitas gain momentum
Publicitas continues to market the advertisements for the AZ Medien Group. In an interview with the Aargauer Zeitung, Peter Wanner said that revenues were significantly below budget last year and that the company had now drawn the necessary conclusions. Talks are being held with Publicitas about possible new forms of cooperation and corresponding proposals are expected. However, the establishment of an independent marketing organization is also being examined. "We will decide by the end of June at the latest whether we will move in the direction of independent management."
Wanner's successor as CEO should be determined by the summer vacation
With regard to his successor as CEO, Wanner said that he would present four candidates to the search committee, which he had selected together with his headhunter. They would come from the media sector, but also from other industries. "My aim is to be able to present the new CEO before the summer vacation," said Wanner. It is not yet clear whether he will then become Chairman of the Board of Directors. The current Chairman, Jürg Schärer, will certainly remain in office until the next Annual General Meeting in June 2010.
However, Wanner's 26-year-old son Michael is to be newly elected to the Board of Directors. After completing his studies at the HSG in St. Gallen, Michael Wanner is currently completing an apprenticeship at the German media group Gruner+Jahr in Hamburg.

The latest campaign by Sulzer, Sutter for Fiat aims to highlight the advantages of the new Fiat 500: The low fuel consumption, the space-saving dimensions, as well as the 0 percent leasing costs. The main visual motif is a world full of bubbling red soap bubbles with a white minus sign to indicate the multiple savings potential. This is accompanied by the matching claim: "Less is Genius". The posters and ad can be seen from May 18 to 31.
" Fiat spot
Responsible at Fiat Group Automobiles Switzerland SA: Maurizio Melzi (Marketing Communications Director Fiat Group) and Samuel Engeli (Brand Communication Manager Fiat). Responsible at Sulzer, Sutter: Michael Kathe (Creative Direction), Florian Bachofen (Art Direction), Marcel Huwiler (Graphics) and Giusi Brullo (Consulting).

General Assembly and Farmers' Olympics
For this year's General Assembly, the Alliance of Swiss Advertising Agencies, or ASW for short, had its members trotted out to the Jucker Farmart. Diligent shortlist readers will have noticed that this was already the second event after the SAWI anniversary to be held at the Rapperswil farm. Some ASW guests had to take a longer drive for this, but were rewarded with a breathtaking view of the small but beautiful Lake Pfäffikon right after arrival. However, before one could enjoy, stroll and feast, the "Büez" was on the agenda in the form of a Farmers' Olympics.
Nailing for all it's worth
With enthusiasm, the participants got down to the business of cow milking, sack hopping, archery, estimating or nailing - in fact, this is just a peasant Olympic discipline. True to the motto: the dumbest farmers reap the biggest potatoes. In the case of the Olympic participants, they harvested pasta and sausages from the farm's own production, which were given as prizes. After so much effort, some of them threw in the towel early to sit down at the richly set tables.
Farmers meal
The ASW really did lay it on thick again with the food. There was grilled food of all kinds and a large, hearty salad buffet, in front of which long queues regularly formed. Few could resist the sight of so many delicacies, and despite their full bellies, they kept on scooping.
An irresistible advertising agency
ASW President Michael Waldvogel and Board Member Benno Frick also couldn't resist. Namely the agency Blu AG Design und Kommunikation, which they "simply had to accept as a new ASW member". One of the reasons they gave for their acceptance was the humane rule that Blu employees are not allowed to work overtime. Waldvogel and Frick personally visited the advertising agency in Altdorf, Uri. The two were also impressed by the "beautiful" Suworow House, which is home to Blu. It even has a small church. It can be visited for various purposes: To pray to the Almighty for more advertising orders in these difficult times, or to be accepted into the illustrious circle of the ASW.
(Text and photos: Adriana Zilic)

Peter and Ursi Grob from the ASW office.

Michael Waldvogel, ASW President, Irene Denzler, Blu AG Design and Communication, and Benno Frick, ASW Board Member (from left).

View of the Pfäffikersee.

Kurt Wettstein (l.), WVC Communication, and Roger Hausmann, Schreiberwerkstatt.

Felix Brunner, Image Point, Oliver Egli and Gustav Ahmsti, both from Ringier (from left).

Marco Cattarozzi, Grafisches Forum Zürich, with Tania Quispe from Peter Droz, advertising agency for SMEs.

Christa Allenspach, Spot Promotion, with Thomas Obrist, Brogle Druck.

Jörg Suter, Werbeagentur Suter, Jacob F. Santschi, JC&Partners Werbeagentur, Jean-Joseph Monnin, JJM Monnin Communication & PR Consulting, Raffaello Giorgio, Publisuisse (from left).