With retroactive effect from January 1, 2006, the previously independent online marketplaces AutoScout24, ImmoScout24, FriendScout24 and TopJobsScout24 will merge to form Scout24 Schweiz AG. According to the press release, this move is intended to make better use of synergies and reduce operating costs. The strategic change towards more flexible structures is intended to absorb the expected strong growth: Up to 100 new jobs are to be created over the next few years.
According to its own announcement, Scout24 is clearly the leading Swiss network of online marketplaces. The Scout24 marketplaces have been owned by Deutsche Telekom since the end of 2003.

Zurich-based agency Jenni Kommunikation has won a new PR mandate with ISSX Internet Security Systems AG. ISSX is active in the field of security management solutions and employs 1,300 people in 27 nations worldwide. Jenni Kommunikation is responsible for the communication activities in Switzerland and Austria. Its main tasks include providing technical advice and implementing the communications strategy in the two Alpine countries, according to a statement. For ISSX Switzerland, the decisive factor in the choice was that the agency had the necessary industry knowledge due to its focus on ICT and consumer electronics.

As of July 1, 2006, Publicitas in Lucerne will have new leadership and management: Marcel Langhi will take over the operational management of the Publicitas branches in Central Switzerland based in Lucerne. Edi Lindegger is the new Head of Department and Head of Advertising "Neue Luzerner Zeitung" based in Lucerne. The "Luzern Land" department, based in Sursee, is headed by Walter August Naef. Markus Odermatt is the new head of the "Urschweiz-Zug" department based in Zug. Jakob Zimmermann is responsible for the "IT & Processes" department based in Lucerne and Zurich.

Following a false report about the pop star Robbie Williams, the media company Ringier has ended its collaboration with the editor-in-chief of the Budapest tabloid Blikk, Gabor Fejes. According to SDA, Blikk publisher Ringier announced on Monday that they had parted "amicably". Blikk had reported on Thursday that pop giant Robbie Williams had performed for Hungarian multi-millionaire Sandor Csanyi. In reality, however, only an impersonator had entertained the wedding party at the wedding of Csanyi's son with songs by Williams, the SDA further reported. Although Csanyi subsequently denied the report and demanded a correction, the paper followed up with another report in which an employee of the hotel confirmed the claim that the real Williams had performed. These ducks have consequences for Gabor Fejes. As Ringier spokeswoman Prisca Wolfensberger announced on Tuesday, Fejes was not removed from his post because of the false reports, but because of differing views on how the position of editor-in-chief should be performed. However, he has already been offered another position in the same company, where Fejes can continue to work as a journalist.

This year's Gigathlon, a superlative sports event from Geneva to Bern, will take place on the weekend of July 7-8, 2006. During 24 hours, the participants have to cover a distance of 329.5 kilometers and a height difference of 4470 meters in five sports. This year, the teams' movements can be followed live and dynamically on Map.search.ch. This is possible by equipping the top escorts of each category, the DRS3 listener team and the broom wagon with GPS. By clicking on the corresponding team number, the map on the website of the Swiss Post subsidiary Search.ch jumps to the current location. The map tracks the selected team; its position is reloaded every four seconds.

SRG is making parts of its audiovisual archive accessible to the public to mark its 75th anniversary. Since it was founded in 1931, it has preserved thousands of audio and video documents. Excerpts from radio and television broadcasts as well as film newsreels from the last 75 years are available at www.ideesuisse.ch. The website is online in the four national languages and is constantly being expanded. It comprises nine sections on politics, society, the economy, culture, science and sport as well as everyday life in Switzerland. Each section contains several dossiers with excerpts from broadcasts. A short text introduces each dossier and places the programs in their contemporary context. For example, on politics, you will find the television report "Birth of the magic formula" from 1959 or the report "Renewed rejection of women's suffrage in the canton of Appenzell-Innerrhoden" from 1982. The juxtaposition of radio and television broadcasts from the four language regions is intended to show the regional characteristics of important events and social debates. The website also provides an insight into media history and shows how radio and television reporting has developed since the introduction of radio in the 1930s and television in the 1950s. It is aimed at anyone interested in Swiss history and is intended in particular to provide media professionals, teachers and students with illustrative material to enrich their presentations and texts.
The project is being realized by the Webfactory of Swissinfo/Swiss Radio International, in close cooperation with the documentation and archive offices of the SRG SSR business units and the Memoriav association for the preservation of Switzerland's audiovisual cultural heritage. By the end of 2006, around 400 excerpts from radio and television broadcasts will be available.

The Geneva daily newspaper Le Temps is sweetening its readers' summer with the adventures of the cartoon character Petit Nicolas. A total of eight short stories will appear in the culture section on Saturdays from July 8 to August 26. Le Temps is thus able to offer preprints from a new volume that will be published on October 5: The second part of "Histoires inédites du Petit Nicolas" features 45 stories of little Nicolas, embellished with 120 drawings by Sempé. Le Petit Nicolas comes from the pens of Asterix creators René Goscinny and Sempé. The cartoons were created in the 1950s and have become a literary cult.

The term "raclette" is not protected. It may continue to be used outside of Valais. This was the decision of the Appeals Commission of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (REKO EVD) on June 27, 2006. The REKO justified its decision by stating that "Raclette" is not a traditional name for a Valais raclette cheese. The Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) decided in November 2003 that cheese may only be called "Raclette" if it comes from the Valais. As a result, many objectors lodged a complaint with the REKO. This instructed the FOAG to delete the sentence "The name Raclette is protected" from the specifications. The use of the term "Valais Raclette" or "Raclette du Valais" is not affected by this decision. The Raclette-Suisse association, which brings together producers of raclette cheese from all over Switzerland, was particularly relieved by the decision.

French-speaking Swiss television TSR is a popular broadcaster in North Africa. After hackers were able to crack the encryption, they are offering football fans in the region the TSR World Cup matches free of charge. Jean-François Sauty, TSR's head of IT and technology, confirmed a report in the newspaper "La Liberté". In the Arab region, the pay-TV channel ART has the rights to broadcast the matches. Infront, the company that manages the broadcasting rights for the World Cup on behalf of FIFA, therefore turned to TSR. According to Sauty, TSR does everything it can to ensure that the broadcasts are not misused by pirates. For example, the encryption is changed daily. The transmission of the matches on TSR is not at risk until the end of the World Cup. However, difficulties could arise for future broadcasting rights or the broadcaster could lose the football rights, explained Sauty.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and Adidas have announced the official signing of a long-term partnership. The sporting goods manufacturer thus holds the worldwide sponsorship rights for the 2008 European Football Championship in Austria and Switzerland. In addition, the UEFA Champions League partnership with UEFA has been extended until 2009 and, as sponsor of Euro 2008, Adidas will provide the official match ball for the tournament as well as equipment for officials, referees, volunteers and ball boys. The financial volume of the Euro 08 sponsorship was not disclosed by either side. The sporting goods company is the second global sponsor with worldwide marketing rights after automotive supplier Continental.

(pr)Samsung is expanding its cooperation with ComBase. The ComBase subsidiary Euro Point Communication (EPC) will support the planned massive strengthening of Samsung's activities in the field of TV set-top boxes with its after sales service. ComBase AG has been a service partner for Samsung for many years in the product areas of cell phones, monitors, set-top boxes and TV satellite receivers.The trend towards high-resolution, digital television can no longer be stopped. Samsung, which has been on the market for years with its own TV set-top boxes, will be massively stepping up its activities in this area in the next few months together with Kabel Deutschland. In order to offer its customers optimal service even after the purchase, Samsung has already involved its after sales service provider ComBase, respectively its subsidiary Euro Point Communication (EPC). EPC has been Samsung's service partner for years, including for set-top boxes, and will also support the upcoming marketing offensive. In addition, Samsung has now entrusted EPC with the after-sales service for a new Samsung projector model. Further joint projects are planned.

ComBase is one of Samsung's most important service partners in Germany. The company provides after-sales service for more than half of all Samsung cell phones in circulation in Germany, for around 80 percent of Samsung satellite receivers and a third of all monitors sold here.

Short portrait ComBase: ComBase AG is a recognized service specialist in the areas of logistics, repair services and customer care with a focus on the so-called TIMES markets (telecommunications, IT, multimedia, entertainment and security). The company, based in Karlstein near Frankfurt/Main, has implemented a holistic logistics and service concept along the product life cycle (supply chain) of electronic and electrotechnical products. On this basis, ComBase provides highly flexible value-added services and has established an excellent reputation in the German market.

ComBase's service concept is currently also being implemented by subsidiaries in Switzerland (SCR ComBase), Austria (ComBase Austria) and on the African continent (ComBase South Africa). ComBase's goal is to cover the entire EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) with its services in the medium term.

The Swiss online picture agency Whitelife.com is offering a summer promotion. When purchasing five photos or illustrations in print size at 130 euros (200 Swiss francs) on the same day, Whitelife will immediately send 100 euros (150 Swiss francs) cash by mail or to your account. This cash-back summer promotion is valid until the end of July 2006.