US press The American newspaper industry, plagued by declining circulation and sales, is hoping for salvation. Last week, seven large regional newspaper chains announced a cooperation with Yahoo to better distribute their ads and content with the help of the search engine. The deal is aimed at improving the use of regional markets: Yahoo will become a provider of local content, and the newspapers will increase their base of potential online advertisers. "This is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow," believes Colby Atwood, President of consulting firm Borrell Associates. "These newspapers need to pursue those advertisers who aren't already appearing in the paper to grow their online business." A total of 176 newspapers with a combined circulation of over 12 million copies are partners in this deal. Google had also concluded a similar cooperation with various newspapers shortly before.
But newspapers are also being courted by other interested parties: both the Los Angeles Times and its owner, the Tribune Company, as well as the Boston Globe are currently the object of desire of private financial investors. A dinosaur of the publishing industry has already found a buyer in this way: Reader's Digest was recently bought by the private holding company Ripplewood.
And a second medium of days gone by, radio, has recently gained new appeal with the takeover of Clear Channel Communications by investor groups Bain Partners and Thomas Lee. "Even though we all talk about this business as if it's dying out, there's still an awful lot of money to be made," says Andrew Ross Sorkin, business reporter for the New York Times.
In fact, many US newspaper companies still generate profit margins of 15 to 20 percent, a volume that other industries can only dream of. But the American stock market is primarily interested in growth, and the industry has nothing to show for it. "It's good for newspaper companies if the pressure to report growth every quarter is removed," says Brian Steffens, Director of the National Newspaper Association. "The industry needs a little time to restructure itself."
Millionaires vie for LA TimesThe interest of financial investors in the media began this year in the television industry, when Saban Capital and a number of other investors took over the broadcaster Univision. The most heated discussion, however, was provoked by a possible sale of the Los Angeles Times. Three prominent billionaires, including Hollywood mogul David Geffen, have expressed an interest in the fourth-largest US daily newspaper. At the same time, the former head of General Electric, Jack Welch, is flirting with an acquisition of the Boston Globe, which belongs to the New York Times Company.
How these desired marriages could take place is, of course, completely open. Thomas Kunkel, publisher of the American Journalism Review, has doubts about the motives of the rich philanthropists. "Of course, we can't know how Welch or Geffen would run a newspaper. But history teaches us that there will be conflicts with independent reporting about their influential friends, for example," he says. "Such leaders don't like to stand passively on the sidelines."    
Gerti Schön

Prevention As of January 1, 2007, gays can also marry in Switzerland. Euro RSCG Zurich has developed a motif for the "Love Life Stop Aids" campaign on behalf of the FOPH especially for the gay target group, which makes it impressively clear that you should say yes to condoms out of love for your own life and that of your partner even after January 1, 2007. The motif will be used in gay print media and on POP from December. SFLB is also campaigning against Aids. The SFLB advertisement for the Zurich AIDS service organization dramatizes this fact with condoms packed in a blister pack.

Business press Bilanz no longer wants to increase its circulation, but to reach more sophisticated readers and is launching a real estate supplement, among other things The last two years have not been easy for the Bilanz crew. After the change from monthly to fortnightly publication, the Bilanz reach dropped rapidly and there was a constant need for explanations. But the explanations were plausible: due to the methodology used in the Wemf reach surveys, it was clear from the outset that the change in frequency from 2005 would no longer allow a direct comparison of reach. In addition, the publisher had also adjusted the circulation by 18 percent shortly beforehand in order to position Bilanz consistently "as an upmarket special interest title for a clearly defined and therefore limited readership" instead of an upmarket mass-circulation paper, as Editor-in-Chief René Lüchinger explains. Both the change in rhythm and the reduction in circulation are therefore expected to result in a significant loss of readers.
However, the extent of this was also a surprise to the publishing house on Zurich's Förrlibuckstrasse. The publisher had expected its readership to fall from 457,000 (2003) to 270,000 (which is not comparable). In reality, however, the magazine now only reaches 242,000 people. Among the business titles, Bilanz has thus slipped from second place behind NZZ to third place behind Cash.
However, Bilanz is not bothered by this, instead pointing to the latest certified circulation, which has risen again by 4 percent to 38,100 copies compared to 2005. Accordingly, it is assumed that the reach will settle at just over a quarter of a million readers. "There's not much more we can achieve with the upmarket and affluent target group we're aiming for," says Lüchinger.
Advertising volume grewThe advertising volume shows how the statements in the balance sheet were received by clients and media agencies: There were no losses. On the contrary, the volume grew by 24.4% in 2005 alone. This more than compensated for the 13% reduction in rates due to the change of rhythm. And this year, the balance sheet was almost able to maintain the volume; according to Wemf advertising statistics, from January to October it was 4.7 percent below the previous year. The automotive market, the telecommunications industry and customers from the office, consumer electronics, fashion and cosmetics sectors in particular seem to have discovered the balance sheet, while the magazine remained stable in the banking and jewelry sectors, but lost demand in the insurance and travel sectors.
However, this is unlikely to remain the case in future due to the reach, which was lower than forecast. This also seems to have been anticipated at Bilanz, as advertising rates were reduced by a further 6 percent in 2007. Nevertheless, the price per thousand readers in 2007 is a third higher than before the change in frequency, which is partly due to the higher printing and distribution costs (twice as many issues as before).
Bilanz is also restructuring and expanding. The magazine structure will change slightly in 2007, with the investment section in particular becoming more up-to-date and clearer. And following a reader survey, the magazine will now be published on Fridays instead of every other Tuesday. The balance sheet range will also be expanded. It currently consists of the main issue, four special issues, specialist and non-fiction books and the Bilanz-Business-Talk on SF zwei.
At the end of March, the quarterly real estate magazine Bilanz Homes (circulation 70,000 copies) will be added. The magazine will be sent to Bilanz subscribers, and 30,000 copies will also be sent to addresses with an affinity for real estate. Homes will also be available at selected newsstands, hotels and boutiques for CHF 12 per copy. The target audience is primarily people who want to buy a property in Switzerland or abroad. It is obviously not just about buildings in the high-end segment. A regular "Houses under 100,000 euros" section is also planned.
Rumors of a management buyoutSince summer 2006,
When Jean Frey AG became a holding company, there was speculation about the sale of the publishing house or some of its titles. The latest rumors were spread by Kleinreport on November 24: The Handelszeitung publishing group, which belongs to Springer, is interested in Jean Frey Verlag, as are Tamedia, Edipresse and Ringier. Furthermore, Roger Köppel had not only bought 60 percent of Weltwoche, but had also submitted an offer for Bilanz, possibly on behalf of Springer. It was also rumored that there were plans for a management buyout at Bilanz. Is the latter true? Presumably yes, because editor-in-chief René Lüchinger is not denying it. "I can't say anything about it at the moment," he says meaningfully. Markus Knöpfli

Sport The sporting goods manufacturer Mikasa Europa has given its website a facelift. The new screen design radiates energy and vitality thanks to numerous animated effects. Various products can be ordered directly online in the new webshop, mainly in countries without their own distribution. The specialists from Lifecom in Lucerne were used to program and design the homepage. Lifecom is one of the leading agencies for integrated Internet and new media services.

On Thursday, the TV magazine TV-Star from Jean Frey launches the multimedia platform Electronic Entertainment Guide (EEG). The magazine now offers 22 television channels on the portal. Next year, the number of channels will be increased to 100. With the TV offer and a new electronic program guide, TV-Star wants to stop the loss of readership caused by some cheap program guides. The current offer includes the six SRG channels, ARD, ZDF, ORF, 3Sat and nine German private channels. Viewers pay according to the duration of their subscription, as the news agency SDA writes. A week costs CHF 5, a month CHF 8.90 and a year CHF 70. The two pay channels Extreme Sports and the erotic channel Private Spica can be watched for between CHF 15.90 and CHF 31.90 per month. A broadband connection of at least 512 kbit per second is required for reception.
Not the only oneTo access the television programs, TV-Star cooperated with the Dübendorf-based Internet provider Netstream. This year, Netstream became the first Swiss provider to enter the ADSL.TV Internet television market. Thanks to the partnership, TV-Star does not have to apply for a TV license from the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom).
In addition to TV-Star, Sunrise and Zattoo, a company founded by Americans and Swiss, also offer television via the Internet. TV-Star has no great illusions about the number of customers. According to Martin Gnos, Head of New Media, a few hundred are expected - except during major events such as the European Football Championship. This means that the new service does not compete with Swisscom. The latter wants to overtake Cablecom with its Internet television service Bluewin-TV, which was launched a month ago.
Electronic program guide leads the way through the television landscapeIn addition to Internet television, TV-Star is also introducing an electronic program guide that leads the user through 250 European TV channels and provides a quick overview. The new site also offers the current TV program in Switzerland - updated every 30 minutes. With the E-Pilot, users can compile the information for their daily newsletter according to their wishes. It is now also possible to enquire about the program by cell phone and those who want to discuss series, telenovelas and films can meet like-minded people in the forum. Streaming formats and podcasts are also planned for 2007. TV-Star users will also have access to an online store and personal horoscopes from Astrodata.

Inks The Flint Group (Sheetfed Division) has announced price increases for sheetfed offset printing inks for the European market. The company cites the fact that the increasing global demand for energy and chemical raw materials has led to a shortage of raw materials for printing inks as the reason for the adjustments, and even mentions that the price of crude oil has more than doubled since 2003. In addition, further price increases of up to 15 percent for raw materials have had to be accepted in recent months.

Pharma Werbeanstalt Schweiz has launched a second season of generics advertising for Sandoz with context-sensitive posters throughout Switzerland. On the one hand, we are concerned about rising health insurance premiums due to the explosion in healthcare costs. On the other hand, there are new products from suppliers with enormous savings potential: Generic drugs. With the introduction of the differentiated deductible in January 2006, the battle in the generics market has now really begun. Sandoz can claim a large share of this business for itself. The generics offshoot of Basel-based Novartis has risen from fifth place to number two in a very short space of time - with a possible trend towards market leadership. In an initial campaign in spring 2006, the aim was to "create trust in generics through education", as Reto Dürrenberger explains his strategy at the advertising agency. The posters had to provide answers to the questions: Why should I buy generics? Aren't generics just cheap copies? Are they also effective/good?
In the meantime, the market has changed. Generics are generally accepted and recognized by society. Now it's all about the choice of brand. The current autumn and winter campaign therefore aims to follow a similar concept and address the current situation in the pharmaceutical market. It communicates with clear headlines such as "You and your wallet are on the road to recovery: in the nearest pharmacy" or "Ticket prices are constantly rising. With generics, it's the other way around".
The text subjects were hung up as "context-sensitive posters" with a reference to the local surroundings of the posters. In train stations, for example, there is a "Ride 1st class, pay 2nd class" motif or "Thanks to generics, expensive medicines will die out just like telephone booths" on a telephone booth. 3D poster sites are also used. Posters with the slogan "At last, the price of medicines is starting to fall" have the entire billboard at an angle. For "Ask your doctor or pharmacist for generics from Sandoz", real holes have been milled into the poster site. The message "Our low prices can blow your mind" is supported by a huge and real three-dimensional handle. The advertising agency emphasizes that the cooperation with APG worked "very well" during the implementation.
They are already working on a new campaign for next year. However, as the third campaign for Sandoz, it will "look different", as CD Sarah Hiltebrand reveals.
Andreas Panzeri

On November 9, 2006, the Neidhart + Schön Group (NSG) received the paper merchant prize on Sihl-Eika Papier at the Ziegler Award. As part of the "Ziegler Best Art & Print Work" of the Swiss paper manufacturer of natural and specialty papers, the jury had to judge 300 works from all over Europe this year. NSG won the paper merchant prize for the SR-Technics annual report printed on Ziegler specialty paper. "Achieving the sought-after matt/gloss effect on uncoated paper was a particular challenge," says Hans Christian Preuss, Print and Media Consultant at NSG.

Free press Eleven months after its launch, the commuter newspaper Le Matin Bleu already reaches 247,000 Romands, according to Wemf. 218,000 readers on average were recorded for Le Matin Bleu in the first Wemf special study, which was carried out from January to June 2006. The second study, whose survey period lasted from January 3 to September 24, now averages 247,000 readers - an increase of 13.3 percent in just three months. "We are very satisfied because the reach grew despite the vacation period, during which we reduced circulation by 20,000 to 30,000 copies in some cases," emphasizes Théo Bouchat, Director of Edipresse. He is therefore not bothered by the fact that the increase in reach from 16.2 percent to 18.7 percent remains within the confidence range (although quite close). Bouchat: "The direction is right: Matin Bleu, which was launched on October 31, 2005, continues to grow and will certainly do even better in Mach Basic 2007-1." Then probably even significantly better than in the first study, despite competition from 20 minutes, which was launched in March.
Le Matin Bleu gained 19,000 of the 29,000 additional readers outside the Léman arc in the cantons of Neuchâtel, Jura, Fribourg and Valais, where distribution was expanded in the summer. Readership there rose to 30,000. In the cantons of Vaud (WG 12) and Geneva (WG 11), the reach increased by 8,000 and 3,000 people respectively. In both regions, the free newspaper reaches just over a quarter of the population. However, it is thought-provoking that the extremely high affinity of initially 160 (compared to the average value of 100) has already fallen significantly there - in Geneva by 15 points.
The readership structure hardly changed compared to the first study. Matin Bleu increased equally among all age groups: The proportion of over 55-year-olds remains at 23 percent. As before, the 35 to 54-year-olds make up 32 percent. The 14 to 34-year-olds continue to form the main group with a share of 45%. Affinity among the latter also remained high at 136 (previously 137).
Men are catching upThe gender ratio of the readership has also changed only slightly. The jubilation of Edipresse last September, according to which the free newspaper is the first daily to "have more female readers than male readers", is, however, gently put into perspective. Not only has the proportion of women fallen from 52 to 51 percent. The affinity with the female sex also declined: Matin Bleu is now more male-oriented. In the longer term, it is likely that the genders will converge - which is still remarkable for a daily newspaper.
For the first time, Wemf provides information on household income, professional position and education of Matin Bleu readers. According to this, the "typical" Matin Bleu reader is either not employed (44%) or fully employed (47%). The working readers are primarily employees (41 percent). Managers and the self-employed are in the minority (together 18%). 45 percent of readers have an intermediate education, 35 percent have a higher education. The majority (37%) live in households with a monthly income of CHF 4,000 to 8,000.    
The Frischknecht caseAn embarrassing mistake at Le Matin Bleu:
Recently, the free newspaper featured a picture of former racing cyclist Thomas Frischknecht, who is in prison for ecstasy trafficking, on the front page. However, the editors confused the accused with the better-known mountain biker of the same name - and depicted the wrong Thomas Frischknecht. However, this has nothing to do with the free commuter newspaper genre: The French news agency AFP and the Parisian newspaper Le Monde also made a similar mistake. Frischknecht - the mountain biker - is now considering legal action. The apology and correction the following day on the Front and on page 2 of Matin Bleu are apparently not enough for him. Markus Knöpfli

Business for the Basel-based TV and film production company Allcomm Productions is going well a year after the management buyout by Mike Helmy and Klaus Vieli. In the summer, the company produced the new décor for the SF programs "Glanz & Gloria" and "Rundschau". Allcom has just won the pitch for the post-production of the new SF program "Start-up", according to a press release. New customers in the film sector include Stadtmarketing Basel and Roche. In addition, the renovation of the comedy program "Café Bale" is beginning to take effect, says Klaus Vieli. The Basel-based company also produces "Bilanz Business-Talk" and "Fussballtalk" on SF2. Allcomm is also active in the event sector.

Awards Last week, the 20th Epica Awards were presented in Paris. The prestigious advertising prize is awarded by 30 specialist magazines from 25 European countries - including Werbewoche. The judging was a real marathon, as more than 5,000 entries from 45 countries had to be evaluated. Switzerland was very successful. The Swiss won in five categories:  
Advico Young & Rubicam: SMP Lovely /Obelix; Medium: Print; Category: Food & Drinks / Diary Products
Walker: Fleurop Mother's Day; Medium: Print; Category: Retail ServicesWalker: Amnesty International; Medium: Print; Category: Public InterestWalker: Fleurop Annual Report; Medium: Print; Category: Illustration / GraphicsSpielmann Felser Leo Burnett SFLB: Mary Woodbridge, Medium: Integrated Campaigns; Category: Techniques / Media InnovationThe complete list of Swiss silver and bronze finalists:
 
Silver
Agency Campaign Medium Category Advico Young & Rubicam get close PRINT The Home / Audiovisual equipment & accessories
Jung von Matt size TECHNIQUES Techniques / Media Innovation Publicis
LTV Yellow Pages - Elevator FILM Consumer services / Communication services
Publicis Crossmedia Ads PRINT Consumer services / Communication services Publicis
Change Anthem - Europe FILM Consumer services / Financial services
Publicis Zoo Zurich - Love PRINT Media & entertainment / Recreation & leisure Publicis Mosquito TECHNIQUES Techniques / Illustration & graphics Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett Blackboard PRINT Consumer services / Public interest Walker Mother's Day Campaign - Kiss FILM Consumer services / Retail services Wirz Photographer FILM Consumer services / Financial services Bronze
Agency Campaign Medium Category Advico Young & Rubicam Don't be stupid! PRINT Health & beauty / Toiletries & health care Euro RSCG Wave PRINT Media & entertainment / Media LangGysiKnoll HAIR FILM Consumer services / Communication services Lowe A Town Called Today FILM Consumer services / Financial servcies Lowe Ocean Defenders PRINT Consumer services / Public interest Lowe It should be banned DM Direct Marketing / B2B direct Publicis Heineken Corporate Stars PRINT Food & Drink / Alcoholic Drinks Publicis Zurich Because Change Happenz PRINT Consumer services / Financial servcies Publicis Straumann Employees PRINT B2B / Professional equipment Ruf Lanz ?Red flag? PRINT Consumer servcies / Financial services Ruf Lanz Mühlehalde Home for the Blind FILM Consumer servcies / Public interest Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett Soccer World Cup Alternative FILM Consumer servcies / Transport & tourism Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett Water FILM Consumer services / Public interest Walker Annual report 2005 TECHNIQUES Techniques / Publications

Roger Schawinski, Managing Director of the German television station Sat 1, is leaving the station at the end of the year. However, the 61-year-old Swiss will remain associated with the ProSiebenSat.1 Group as a consultant, as ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG announced in Munich on Wednesday. Matthias Alberti, 43, will become the new Managing Director as of January 1, 2007. Alberti is currently Deputy Managing Director for the Entertainment division at Sat.1. Guillaume de Posch, CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, writes in the corresponding media release: "We thank Roger Schawinski for his outstanding performance. He has led Sat.1 to commercial success. With formats such as "Schillerstrasse", "Verliebt in Berlin" and "Die Luftbrücke", he has succeeded in decisively raising the station's profile. I personally greatly appreciated working with him and wish him all the best and every success for his new plans." Guillaume de Posch continued: "I am delighted that Matthias Alberti, a manager from within the company and one of the best and most experienced German television managers, is taking over. I am convinced that Sat.1 will continue to develop successfully as one of the strongest German television brands under Matthias Alberti's leadership."
Roger Schawinski is quoted in the press release as follows: "It has been three challenging and exciting years at Sat.1, and I am proud that Sat.1 has been able to achieve record financial results in each of these years. I have stayed one year longer than I actually intended and have now decided not to extend my contract again in order to realize new professional plans. I would like to thank the team at Sat.1. Together we have achieved a great deal. I believe it is the right time for me to pass on responsibility for Sat.1, and my former deputy Matthias Alberti is the right man for the job. I will always remain close to the station in my heart and wish Matthias Alberti and the Sat.1 team all the best and every success."
Roger Schawinski began his career in 1972 after studying economics. He initially worked as a journalist for Swiss television. In 1974, he founded and hosted the most successful weekly program on Swiss television to date, the consumer magazine "Kassensturz". From 1977 to 1978, he worked as editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper "Tat". In 1979, he founded the first Swiss private radio station "Radio 24". Between 1987 and 1989, he was Chairman of the Board and 50 percent shareholder of the Swiss Stella Group, a film distribution and production company. In 1989, Roger Schawinski founded the monthly magazine "Bonus", which he sold to the media group Tamedia in 1993. He was the founder, majority shareholder, chairman of the board and presenter of a daily talk show on TeleZüri, which went on air in 1994 as the first private local television station in Switzerland. In 1998, Roger Schawinski founded Tele 24, the first nationwide private television station, which he led as CEO. In 2001, the Swiss media company Tamedia acquired all shares in Belcom Holding. In December 2003, Roger Schawinski took over the management of Sat.1. Under his leadership, the station's pre-tax profit rose from EUR 4 million in 2003 to EUR 127 million in the first nine months of 2006 alone, an increase of 46 percent compared to the same period last year.