Cyon is expanding its offering with new online products. In addition to the My.cycon management platform based on the self-developed Froox software, the Swiss web host now operates a domain center.
With My.cyon, customers can manage personal data and products online. Servers and domains can also be managed via the platform. In future, paper forms and waiting times will be a thing of the past. Invoices can also be paid via My.cycon.
According to Cyon, the company invested over two years in the development of the ERP and CRM software solution Froox. As Cycon CEO David Burkardt explains in the press release, it has been developed from scratch.
My.cyon also includes a domain center. Over 40 domain endings are now available there. An overview of the domains still available is also offered.

Cover pictures of Time magazine set the agenda. "How you can save your newspaper" was the headline of the February 16 issue. A modest proposal, the subline read. Graphically illustrated by a fish wrapped in the New York Times. Walter Issacson, President of the Aspen Institute and former Managing Director of Time magazine, is self-critical of the development of the media industry: "We made a mistake when we put everything online for free!"
When financial systems collapse like houses of cards, the value creation models of the media industry must also be reconsidered. The thesis that everything must be available for free on the Internet is now calling the financing of journalism into question. Isaacon recapitulates the history of the relationship between the media and the Internet. At the beginning of the 1990s, users still paid for the time they spent online. Good content was valuable back then because it extended the time spent online. Then the millions in advertising were tempting. In the current crisis, however, publishers have to realize that only the server and search engine operators are making money. In his text, Isaacson proposes microbilling for content. Sophisticated systems should make it possible to pay for the individual articles read.
The "modest" proposal is not addressed to the publishers, but to the readership! This almost obsequious attitude makes the proposal a beggar's walk. However, the timing is ideal. When a bastion of financial and economic power is falling every day, yesterday's certainties can be called into question without losing face. The dramatic situation of newspapers and journalists in the USA encourages creativity for the development of alternative production and financing systems. Petitions are a matter of course. If the banks and the automotive industry are only begging for billions in double and triple digits, then readers can also be asked for a few cents for the collection in favor of journalism.
Of course, the response to Isaacson's suggestion was not long in coming. Those for whom there is nothing more evil on the Internet than having to pay for content can think of nothing but gloating about the dying dinosaurs. They are happy to be marketed to, pay for their latest computer and server access fees without batting an eyelid. After all, Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, expressed his wish that Google could save the newspapers in an interview with CNNMoney.com in January. The demand for their services is high, he notes, but their business model no longer works. Quite immodestly, he notes that Google could buy up the media companies. However, this would not solve the problem. That is why Google is relying on the "merge without merging" principle by integrating the web systems of both sides. However, investing money directly in the media companies is out of the question for him. Schmidt: "We don't mix philanthropy with business. We are in the advertising business!" After all, it would be a tragedy for Eric Schmidt if journalism were to disappear due to economic problems. And bloggers would not be able to replace it: However, begging Google won't do the newspaper industry any good. Schmidt: "Google is careful with its money. We only write big checks when we have a great strategy."
That leaves a few financially strong investors who are attracted to the media adventure to go begging. However, their commitment is similar to that of patrons from earlier times. In France, President Sarkozy is supporting the media with a series of measures. At the same time, he is taking them by the hand. The readership is also being mobilized less and less through the classic bartering of performance for a reasonable price, but rather in donation organizations for journalism. There is a great deal of creativity in this regard: the Kachingle model, for example, enables voluntary contributions to be paid for media content that appeals to readers. What they all have in common is that the contribution is an act of mercy. The feeling of shame must be overcome in order to go begging. In return, the donor can be proud of their altruistic willingness to help.
Is this the future of paid journalism? On the one hand, dependence on the favor of advertising, on the other on the mercy of donors? And what will journalism look like if it becomes one-sidedly dependent? Thinking about it this way, the old model of financing via both the user and the advertising market offers an interesting balance of power. New forms and payment systems are constantly being developed for advertising. This should actually also be possible for journalistic content. With his modest proposal, Walter Isaacson has challenged the current dogma that online content should be free. Fair and solid financing models are needed! In recent months, we have learned once again that those who follow false promises of happiness and only bet on one card will sooner or later become beggars!

SRG carried out unauthorized advertising for UBS in its Alinghi special broadcasts in 2007 and must therefore pay CHF 211,000. The Federal Administrative Court has confirmed the decision of OFCOM.
At the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia, UBS sponsored both the Alinghi team and three SF specials broadcast by SRG. When UBS was mentioned as a sponsor, a turning maneuver of the boat was shown with the UBS logo prominently emblazoned on the hull. At the same time, the text "Alinghi in Valencia - with UBS¬" was played. Immediately afterwards, the UBS logo was also displayed over a large area. The Federal Office of Communications deemed this to be an unlawful advertising statement in favor of UBS and ordered the confiscation of the corresponding revenue of CHF 211,000.
The Federal Administrative Court has now dismissed SRG's appeal and confirmed the decision of the Federal Office of Communications. The judges in Bern share the view of Bakom that SRG did not primarily refer to the UBS sponsorship of the SRG broadcasts, but primarily to the bank's financial commitment to Alinghi.
This amounted to inadmissible image advertising in favor of UBS. According to the judges in Bern, the broadcast sponsorship of UBS could have been referred to in a permissible manner with the words "This broadcast makes UBS possible for you" or something similar.
The confiscation of the CHF 211,000 in revenue was not objectionable under these circumstances. In particular, Bakom was not obliged to threaten SRG with this step in advance. Moreover, SRG had already repeatedly violated sponsorship regulations in the past.
Just two weeks ago, the Federal Administrative Court reprimanded the SRG for inadmissible sponsorship advertising for the TCS in the "Einfachluxuriös" and "Meteo" programs. In those cases, the SRG was ordered to pay CHF 341,000.

The year 2008 was announced as an interim year in the radio market - because the awarding of the license was open and therefore the future composition of the advertising pools was unclear. However, the die is still not cast, which is why another interim year is on the cards. But something else is also holding the industry back: Mediasense, the exclusive marketer of the SwissRadioPool (SRP), is far from being accepted as the new generic solution. Although a lot has happened there: at the end of 2008, the company, which was deep in the red, was restructured by the participating SRG marketer Publisuisse and the 15 SRP radio stations each contributing around CHF 800,000. Publisuisse then relinquished its stake at the end of 2008 and left MediaSense entirely to the SRP radio stations. The latter appointed a new Board of Directors and elected Urs Lorenz, Managing Director of Radio Zürisee Werbe AG, as Chairman of the Board. At the end of January, MediaSense Managing Director Bernhard Krättli also left the company. As of March 1, he will become Managing Director of Radio BE1, for which he previously worked as Advertising Manager.
At the same time, the 15 SRP radios opened up the MediaSense shareholder base and thus also their pool by offering other radios a stake. A new contract was also negotiated for existing and new MediaSense members. This provides for MediaSense to withdraw from active marketing and limit itself to planning, booking and product development. Active generic marketing is also planned at a later date. As the SRP is also contractually valid until the end of 2010, it will remain a basic offering for the advertising market and must continue to be booked exclusively via MediaSense. For the integration of any new members, Mediasense is aiming for an open pool model without set stations ("SwissRadioPool-Flex"). This would then also have to be booked exclusively via Mediasense, says Urs Lorenz. Another point: the commission that MediaSense pays to third-party agents will remain at 10 percent, while the commission that broadcasters pay to MediaSense is to be increased from 12.5 percent to 16 percent, according to Lorenz.
None of these changes are yet set in stone. Although they have been approved by the majority of SRP radio stations, Lorenz confirms that parts of the contract will be discussed again. He cites personnel changes at some radios as the reason for this. Presumably this refers to the departure of Silvia Imperiali from Radiovision, the joint marketer of Basel 1 and Basilisk. Or the recent purchase of BE1 by Ringier and the change from "veteran" Martin Freiburghaus to Bernhard Krättli.
However, some existing SRP members and potential new members are struggling with the new contract. Some do not want to accept the renewed exclusivity, others have difficulties with the increased sales price, and third parties (outsiders) fundamentally reject MediaSense as the "pool management company of the SRP". Urs Lorenz denies this. But things could get even worse: According to reports, at least three existing members are considering leaving. Lorenz, who has at least brought a breath of fresh air into the matter, is looking on the bright side. Thinking about pool memberships is part of everyday media life, he says. He is also in negotiations with nine potential new members. After all. To date, around 20 radio stations across Switzerland have been excluded from the SRP. But one thing is clear: New-Mediasense still needs time. Lorenz also confirms this, referring primarily to the pending licensing complaints. For this reason alone, he sees 2009 as another interim year for the radio market. However, he hopes that things will become clearer in late fall.
Markus Knöpfli

The "Energy4ever" petition to save Zurich's local radio station Radio Energy has so far been signed by over 100,000 people. It is to be presented to the Federal Council during the spring session.
With the "Energy4ever" petition launched in November 2008, Energy Zurich is defending itself against not being considered for the award of the license and is demanding a fourth FM frequency for the Zurich-Glarus region. The petition could be signed online, by free SMS or in writing.
"Over 50,000 signatures had already been collected by the end of November last year, and from then on it was only a matter of time before the 100,000 mark was broken," Energy Zurich Managing Director Dani Büchi was quoted as saying in a press release on Wednesday.
In the coming days, Energy Zurich wants to thank its listeners and partners for their support with a campaign.
As the station writes, the great response has encouraged the station and its 60 or so employees to continue on the path they have chosen and to fight to preserve the station.

From a media perspective, two things are currently moving the Swiss population: on the one hand, the educational precariat is enjoying "MusicStar". Although the ratings are in the basement compared to the last season, the Gaga show, which was conceived as a talent show, still provides material for countless articles in the relevant press. Every fart and every comment, no matter how otherworldly or stupid, whether it comes from the jury or the contestants, is eagerly recorded, commented on and either printed or posted online. Every vote or non-vote becomes a topic. This in turn gives a broad section of media users the opportunity to get upset, to like it - or to condemn it. User-generated content, what more could you want?
On the other hand, the more educated classes are outraged by the UBS debacle. Here, a distinction must be made between the communication of the actual facts and the further processing of the topic by means of assumptions and hypotheses. In this second area, the UBS crisis works like "MusicStar". Here, too, all statements by self-appointed specialists, apparent experts and alleged insiders are first initiated by the media and then spread with relish. In countless discussions and talk shows, the topic is also talked about, analyzed and commented on by unsuspecting politicians under the pretext of supposedly deepening the issue. Here, too, the people's tempers are boiling in countless letters to the editor and commentaries online and in print.
What's the difference, please?

The German Axel Springer Verlag generated the highest profit in its history in 2008. The profit amounted to 571.1 million euros. This follows a loss of 288.4 million in the previous year.
Group sales rose by 5.8 percent from EUR 2577.9 million in 2007 to EUR 2728.5 million last year.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Group attributed the record result to a "pleasing sales trend and strict cost discipline". At 486.2 million euros, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) exceeded the previous year's figure by 3.4 percent. Springer thus even far exceeded its own forecast.
Adjusted for the Pro Sieben Sat 1 Group dividend and income from the Kirch insolvency, EBITDA amounted to 480 million euros. Ebita amounted to 422.1 million euros (compared to 421.7 million euros in the previous year). In the previous year, the media group posted a net loss despite good figures due to the high write-downs on its stake in the postal service provider Pin Group.
On the basis of these figures, the Group intends to distribute a record dividend of EUR 4.40 to its shareholders.

The US newspaper market is in a deep crisis: now the San Francisco Chronicle is facing the end. If cuts such as job cuts are not enough, the parent company Hearst wants to sell the twelfth-largest daily newspaper in the US or close it down.
According to the industry, San Francisco would be the first US metropolis to completely lose its leading daily newspaper during the crisis. The paper employs around 1500 people. Daily circulation recently stood at 340,000 copies - a drop of around a third since 2001.
In recent years, the Chronicle has always been in the red, with a loss of around 50 million dollars (39 million euros) in 2008 alone, Hearst announced on Tuesday, as reported by SDA.
Four major US newspaper publishers have filed for bankruptcy since the end of 2008. The most spectacular case in December was the Tribune Company, which publishes the Los Angeles Times, among others.

The campaign is alive and well!
The multi-award-winning campaign for the online job board Jobwinner.ch is now entering its third year. And the two latest ads from Wirz show that there’s still plenty of life left in the tongue-in-cheek core concept. In the ads, a popcorn vendor (with a respectful nod to Alfred Hitchcock) on one hand and a not-quite-perfect beauty queen on the other dramatize the already well-established Jobwinner message: «As soon as a job opens up, it’s online with us. www.jobwinner.ch.» Both campaigns were shot with German photographer Ilan Hamra.

V for Victory
Featuring 25 of the world’s best young soccer players and athletes, including Didier Drogba, Rafael Nadal, and Cesc Fàbregas, Nike has developed a campaign that captures the rebellious attitude of these exceptional young athletes toward challenges—symbolized by the world-famous V sign. V stands for Victory—and this campaign explores the feeling of victory from the perspective of athletes who embody victory and success and embrace every challenge. Valon Behrami has been selected to represent Switzerland in the new international campaign.

Warm Jackets for Cold Days
Winter just won’t let up. So there’s plenty of time to enjoy the ski jackets from the new KJUS collection. The WVC Communications AG ASW agency in Bubikon is currently promoting these warm outfits with black-on-white ads in magazines and special-interest publications. Sometimes it’s fun to head downhill, too…

Quirky Calendar Art
At the world’s largest calendar exhibition in 2009 in Stuttgart, which featured over 1,500 submitted works, Reinhardt Druck Basel won the silver award for its “Street Art NYC” calendar. The two photographic artists, Daniel & Geo Fuchs, have already made a name for themselves through solo and group exhibitions as well as art fairs around the world. For the 2009 calendar, they collaborated with Basel-based designer Hermann Joos. The result was a series of whimsical images captured during their wanderings through New York’s fast-paced streets and alleys, strongly evoking the underground scene. The designer drew inspiration from the creative, abstract style of graffiti artists. He was particularly captivated by the multi-layered messages hidden within the artworks.

Zurich-based web service provider Getunik has created an interactive online mosaic for the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. The US-wide campaign aims to raise awareness of nature among young people.
Under the title "Creating Memories in Nature", the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) is launching an online campaign to help the young population of the Obama administration discover the beauty of nature. The photos that the participants take during their nature excursions are uploaded to the Internet. In this way, an oversized photo mosaic is created.
Getunik has developed the mosaic software and web infrastructure. The mosaic can be used in any design for any number of images and fed in via browser or cell phone. In 2007, the service provider won the Best of Swiss Web Award in the Public Affairs category.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is part of the US Department of the Interior. Its task is to preserve nature and its biodiversity.
Getunik offers services in the areas of campaigning and e-mail marketing, among others. Current clients include Roger Federer, Hirslanden Group, WWF, Swiss Cancer League and Odlo International.

Since August 2008, Werbewoche has been published in a completely new design. We deliberately dispensed with the previous rigid magazine structure and became considerably more magazine-like. The feedback from the market was largely positive. Most of the criticism was about the font size. We will be changing this from March 12 along with some other layout adjustments.
Another change concerns the publication frequency of Advertising Week. From issue 8 onwards, you will receive Advertising Week fortnightly. The next issue of Advertising Week will therefore be published on March 12.
Two reasons were decisive: the media usage behavior of our target group has changed. This applies not only to us, but to all print media - but not everyone has noticed it yet: more and more people are looking for the latest news online. In print, people want orientation and in-depth information. In order to keep this promise, however, sufficient editorial resources are needed. Statements such as "making a better newspaper with fewer people" are only true - if at all - if you have a very large editorial team. This is not the case for us; we have to concentrate our resources. This is the only way we can fulfill our claim of producing an advertising week that is surprising, provocative and critical. And all this according to journalistic criteria.
Secondly, the consequences of the economic crisis are hitting us hard. Our advertising sales have also slumped dramatically. The change to the new publication format will allow us to survive these difficult economic times.
In the new concept, the link between print and online will become even more important. We will therefore be coming up with a few surprises in the online area during the first half of the year.

Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
Advertising Week

Eleonore E. Droux,
Managing Director Media Daten AG