TV broadcasters like to try and rouse their viewers from their slumber by increasing the volume when the commercial breaks begin. This is now a thing of the past in Slovakia: excessively loud advertising on radio and TV will be punished. A corresponding piece of legislation has been in force since February. However, according to Netzeitung.de, the State Control Council for Radio and Television (RVR) has only recently acquired suitable measuring equipment. The aim is to start trial measurements at selected broadcasters in November. If there are no technical problems with these trial measurements, the Council also intends to impose penalties from the end of the year. According to the law, broadcasters face fines of 100,000 to five million crowns (3,000 to 150,000 euros) if advertising and teleshopping sound louder than other programs. Slovakian creatives are probably in demand here: they now have to make advertising that stands out, and not just because of its volume.

 Google Switzerland boss Andreas Schönenberger sees Switzerland as a laggard when it comes to online advertising: "As far as the online advertising market is concerned, Switzerland is lagging behind other countries," he told the NZZ am Sonntag. According to Media Focus, 52 million francs flowed into the Internet last year, which corresponds to 1.4 percent of total advertising investment. Google currently estimates the share at 2 percent. "Swiss companies and advertising agencies in Switzerland have been very hesitant in the past and have not fully exploited the potential of the internet as an advertising medium," explains Schönenberger. In Germany, around 8 percent of advertising expenditure went to online channels, in the UK it was as high as 15 percent. However, Google is missing from the statistics: Schönenberger did not reveal how much turnover the Internet giant generates. He simply commented on speculation about the growth rate with the following words: "If Google Switzerland closes 2007 with double-digit percentage growth in turnover, I will be very satisfied". Meanwhile, Google is strengthening itself internationally for the battle against the community site Facebook. Google has formed an alliance with a number of other social network platforms: The companies presented the joint standard interface OpenSocial, through which they want to open up the networks to each other and to external developers.
Google pulled off a surprise coup: the company from Mountain View in California also brought the world's largest online network MySpace on board. Together, the networks want to defy their competitor Facebook, which is currently growing rapidly. In addition to Google's own Orkut, the websites LinkedIn, Hi5, Friendster, Plaxo, the German market leader Xing and the software company Oracle are also taking part in the initiative. According to press reports, these networks alone have a combined total of around 100 million users. MySpace is likely to contribute a further 180 million members.

Agence Trio, which is now based in Zurich as well as Lausanne, is designing Loterie Romande's "Noël à Vie" scratch card. It offers the chance to win CHF 100,000 a year for life. The agency is also promoting the ticket launch with F12 posters, press advertisements, radio spots, Internet banners, direct marketing and promotional elements for sales outlets.

Marco Thali has joined Media Focus as Product Manager with immediate effect. In this role, the 26-year-old is responsible for the Media Focus Creations and Global Adview products. He reports to Managing Director Jens Windel. Thali has a degree in Business Administration from HSW Lucerne with a specialization in Marketing & Communication. He will work closely with Katja Funk. Funk, who has a degree in cultural studies, has been working for Media Focus as Product Manager since last year and will continue to manage the Media Focus advertising data division as well as all training courses for the WizzAd evaluation system.

 
At the same time as the new news radio station DRS 4 News, World Radio Switzerland (WRS) will also go on air on November 5, 2007 (see ). According to Friday's media release, WRS will have English-language programming aimed at an international audience in Switzerland from Geneva. The two programs, both of which will be broadcast digitally, will also contribute to the development and spread of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in Switzerland, it said. World Radio Switzerland replaces World Radio Geneva, which was founded in 1996 as a bridge builder between the various English-speaking communities. This tradition is to be continued with the new station, as is the partnership with the BBC. In addition, news about Switzerland, its regions and economic events will be broadcast. WRS is a collaboration between the four regional language radios and Swissinfo and is part of the SRG offering. The station will be available in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino via DAB, throughout Switzerland via satellite and Internet, and in part also via cable.

 Liechtenstein state radio is budgeting a small profit of CHF 54,000 for 2008. The budget, which has been approved by the government, anticipates income of 1.815 million francs and expenditure of 3.261 million francs. The broadcaster is forecasting black figures thanks to the state contribution of 1.5 million francs, as the information office in Vaduz announced on Friday. In 2005, the broadcaster was in the red and was only able to report a profit last year thanks to the state subsidy (see ).

 Uli Rubner, the former Head of Magazines at Tamedia, will be leaving the company next spring. This was communicated by Tamedia in the course of announcing its new corporate structure. "What I will do afterwards is still open," said Rubner when asked by Werbewoche. "I haven't had long to think about it". After the Weko decision in the Espace Media case, the new structure was worked out very quickly. Rubner did not have much time to make concrete plans. However, she already has a few ideas: "I would like to become self-employed and, for example, step in to help companies restructure or work as an interim manager." She is also carrying around a few entrepreneurial ideas, but they are not yet ready to go ahead. She does not want to work purely as a consultant: "I can't imagine just writing papers," explained Rubner. She explains her departure from Tamedia by saying that in the new company structure she would still have been responsible for the magazines. As these are now integrated into the "Media Switzerland" division, she will no longer be a member of the company management. "However, I found this work very exciting. Without it, a very interesting part of the job will fall away," says Rubner. She will continue to be responsible for magazines at Tamedia until next April.

 The new Tamedia structure has brought together two companies with very different structures, said Tamedia spokesperson Christoph Zimmer on the changes: "Espace Media Groupe and Tamedia were very differently organized, now the Board of Directors has created a coherent structure." The Bern-based Espace Media was previously managed by three heads, while the Zurich-based Tamedia was divided into six divisions according to genre. The reorganization leaves the Bernese part as well as the Zurich media with a great deal of autonomy, Zimmer found: "The two new members of the company management, who come from Espace Media, manage important areas: Albert Stäheli the Espace Bern media and Urs Schweizer the publishing services". In addition, the Bern media will continue to be combined in one unit. The spokesman emphasized that the four newly created divisions are of equal value, which is also shown by the fact that they are comparable in terms of turnover or number of employees. The famous "Berner Modell" is still subject to the same conditions: "As long as the Bund and the Berner Zeitung are economically and journalistically successful, the model will remain in place," explained Zimmer. There are currently no concrete projects for a cooperation between the two Bernese papers and the Tages-Anzeiger, but a form of cooperation will certainly be examined in the medium term. According to Zimmer, however, this would have to be a collaboration between "titles on an equal footing". Cooperation would take place where readers and advertising customers would benefit. Zimmer does not believe that the Berner Zeitung and Tages-Anzeiger, for example, will share the same mantle at some point: "That would hardly work".
Tamedia certainly wants to grow in the online sector. The Internet activities are combined in the "Media Switzerland" division - however, the planned new online network is not included there: "This is a project of the daily newspapers in Berne and Zurich, which are realizing the network together with the Basler Zeitung". This is why it - like the planned commuter newspaper News - is affiliated with the respective regional divisions.
There were no direct job cuts as a result of the restructuring, "apart from the three management positions", said Zimmer. However, he conceded that jobs may be cut as part of the consolidation.
Now that the reorganization in Switzerland is over, Tamedia would have time to think about foreign projects. Since October, the media company has been publishing a commuter newspaper in Luxembourg together with Editpresse. "We had a good opportunity here to realize a project with a partner," explained the spokesperson. Beyond that, there is no master plan for expansion abroad. However, Werdstrasse does not seem averse to possible plans abroad: "If Tamedia can bring specific added value to a project, further involvement is not out of the question".

 After six years at Sunrise Switzerland as Team Leader Consumer Communication, Sabina Siegrist is moving to the consultancy Neue Lgk in Zurich and Bern. Siegrist already knows agency life: according to the press release, she has 16 years of experience in classic advertising, including ten years in advertising agencies and six years on the client side. Sabina Siegrist is currently attending the "MAS Communications Management" postgraduate course at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts while working.

 
Various European radio broadcasters founded the European HD Radio Alliance in Lucerne on October 22 to publicize and promote HD radio technology throughout the continent. The association follows on from the US HD Digital Radio Alliance founded in December 2005 and the Brazilian Association for Digital Radio formed in 2006, according to a press release issued on Friday. The President of the new association is Jürg Bachmann from Energy Zurich, the Vice President is Andriy Karpiy from the First Ukrainian Radio Group and the Secretary General is Markus Ruoss from Radio Sunshine. The conference of the European HD Radio Alliance coincided with the HD Radio Days event in Lucerne, Switzerland, which was attended by over 200 experts from 13 countries. The HD Radio system is a digital radio system that was created to compete with DAB. While the HD Radio system has been recognized as the only technology in the USA to date, DAB is the dominant standard in Europe.

 
Schweizer Werbung (SW) has named SVP stooge Ueli Maurer communicator of the month for October, just ahead of Piero "die Ramme" Esteriore. Maurer's communicative talent is undisputed, and his party's success at the ballot box alone would justify the award of the SW title, according to a press release issued on Friday. However, he took the decisive step towards the title when he announced that he would be setting up his own business as a communications specialist. Why this is decisive for the title is not explained in detail, however. However, Schweizer Werbung points out that the SVP has played the keyboard of communication with the greatest virtuosity - probably referring to the election campaign. It consistently and professionally relied on integrated communication including event marketing and achieved what it wanted with its sometimes provocative style: a high level of attention.
Even if not all SVP communication was "Maurer's doing", Schweizer Werbung now believes that he will also be successful as an independent communications expert. However, this assessment ignores the fact that the SVP threw more money into the election campaign than all the other parties put together. It is also questionable whether his ability for good political communication can be easily transferred to other areas of communication.
In the eyes of Schweizer Werbung, Piero Esteriore has disqualified himself because his "audacious and foolish action" does not have the character of a well thought-out communication strategy. The singer's short-circuited action may have had communicative potential, but it was still very negative. Against this background, it becomes even clearer why Ueli Maurer was chosen.

 Following the merger with Espace Media, the media company Tamedia is adopting a new corporate structure and expanding its management. The media company is now divided into four operational divisions: Media Espace Bern, Media Zurich & North-Eastern Switzerland, Media Switzerland and Publishing Services. At the same time, the number of members of the Executive Board will be increased to six. Chairman of the Management Board and staff units Martin Kall remains Chairman of the Management Board of Tamedia. With the reorganization of the company as of 1 January 2008, Tamedia intends to combine the competencies of both companies following the merger with Espace Media Groupe. According to a press release, the reorganization according to geographical markets takes into account the regional anchoring of the media in the Espace Bern and Zurich & North-Eastern Switzerland regions.
Medien Espace BernThe Medien Espace Bern division is being created from the former Espace Media Groupe, which will remain a regional media company. It will be headed by 58-year-old Albert "Polo" Stäheli, previously CEO of Espace Media Groupe. Albert P. Stäheli joined Berner Zeitung AG at the beginning of 1981 as a member of the Executive Board and had been CEO of Espace Media Groupe since 1993. The division with around 422 full-time employees comprises the daily newspapers Berner Zeitung BZ, Der Bund, Solothurner Tagblatt, the holdings in the daily newspapers Berner Oberländer and Thuner Tagblatt, the Bern edition of the new commuter newspaper News, the regional online platform Espace.ch, TeleBärn, Radio Capital FM as well as the weekly and free newspapers Bantiger Post, Berner Bär, Bümpliz-Woche, Anzeiger von Kerzers, Der Murtenbieter and Solothurner Woche. The agricultural media Schweizer Bauer and Der Landfreund as well as the online platform Schweizerbauer.ch are also assigned to the Espace Bern media.
Medien Zürich & Nordostschweiz The 59-year-old Rolf Bollmann will take over the management of the Media Zurich & Northeastern Switzerland division with around 595 full-time positions. As a member of the Management Board of Tamedia, he was previously responsible for the Zurich Newspapers division. Bollmann's division includes the Tages-Anzeiger, the event magazine Züritipp, the commuter newspaper News, the new online news network, the Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich as well as TeleZüri and Radio 24. On May 1, 2008, Huber & Co. AG with Thurgauer Zeitung and Regional-Zeitung Hinterthurgau, which also holds a minority stake in the publisher of the Winterthur daily newspaper Der Landbote, Ziegler Druck- und Verlags-AG, will also join this division.
Andreas Meili, Head of Electronic Media, is leaving Tamedia. According to the press release, he has decided to set up his own business and will establish a new media law firm in Basel and Zurich together with Basel-based lawyer and Radio Basilisk owner Martin Wagner.
Media SwitzerlandThe 37-year-old Christoph Tonini will be responsible for the Media Switzerland division with around 550 full-time positions. He will also remain Deputy Chairman of the Management Board and responsible for finances until the end of April 2008. As a member of the Management Board of Tamedia, Tonini was previously Head of the two divisions Finance and Services and Newspapers Switzerland. The Media Switzerland division includes the SonntagsZeitung, the media network 20 Minuten, the magazines Annabelle, Automobil-Revue, Moto Sport Schweiz and Schweizer Familie, the business newspaper Finanz und Wirtschaft, the classifieds platform Piazza.ch, the dating platform Partnerwinner.ch and the news community platform Facts.ch. The job market activities Alpha, Stellenanzeiger, Alpha.ch and Das Magazin will be added on May 1, 2008. With Homegate.ch, Tilllate.com, TVtäglich and the commuter newspaper L'Essentiel in Luxembourg, the Media Switzerland division is also responsible for various investments.
Uli Rubner, previously responsible for the Magazines division of Tamedia, will leave the company at the end of April 2008. Until then, she will remain a member of the Management Board as the person responsible for Magazines. Since 2004, Uli Rubner has completed the integration of Finanz und Wirtschaft into Tamedia and further developed the magazines Annabelle, Schweizer Familie and TVtäglich.
Publishing ServicesThe Publishing Services division combines the newspaper printing plants of Tamedia in Zurich and Espace Media in Berne, the commercial printing business of Benteli Hallwag Druck AG and Schaer Thun AG, the production and AD services of Tamedia and Espace Media, the call centers and publishing logistics. The holdings in the delivery organizations Bevo and Zuvo are a strong addition. Urs Schweizer, 50, the former deputy CEO of Espace Media Groupe, will take over the management of this division with around 899 full-time positions. Urs Schweizer has been with Espace Media Groupe since 1987 and has been responsible for Printing and Management Services since 1993.
Jürg Brauchli, previously Head of the Printing & Logistics Division, will take on a new entrepreneurial role for Tamedia during the first quarter of 2008.
FinanceThe Finance division comprises the financial accounting departments in Berne and Zurich, Central Controlling, Group Finance, IT, Facility Management, the Infrastructure & Security department and the staff restaurants with a total of 151 full-time positions. The Legal Services staff unit will now also report to the Head of Finance.
Sandro Macciacchini, who will remain Head of Legal Services, will take over as Head of Finance. Sandro Macciacchini will take over the IT, Facility Management, Infrastructure & Security and Staff Restaurants divisions on January 1, 2008, and responsibility for the Financial Accounting and Controlling and Group Finance divisions on May 1, 2008.
Daniel Manser will become Deputy Head of the Finance Division. The business economist has been with Tamedia since 1997 and is Head of Financial Accounting & Controlling. Sandra Hanhart, 35, will become Deputy Head of Legal Services. The lawyer has been working as a legal consultant for Tamedia since April 2004.
The Human Resources Management, Corporate Development Projects and Corporate Communications departments continue to report directly to the Chief Executive Officer, Martin Kall, with a total of around 70 full-time positions.
At the same time as implementing the new corporate organization, the central service areas will be analyzed and redefined in the course of the first quarter of 2008.