Since the new Radio and Television Act (RTVA) came into force, the economic situation of private radio stations has improved significantly. Advertising revenues also increased, reaching CHF 164 million in 2012. The situation is less rosy for licensed regional television, which is still a marginal player in the Swiss advertising market.

Thanks not least to increased revenues from the advertising market, the economic situation of private radio stations has improved significantly in recent years. Revenues from advertising and sponsorship have risen by eight percent since 2010 to 164 million Swiss francs.

Nevertheless, a good half of the tour operators do not achieve sufficient profitability, and the number of tour operators making losses increased again last year. However, the overall picture is very mixed. In all regions of Switzerland, there are radios that are successful overall and those that are less successful. This also applies to the conversion of fee money into programming services: The most efficient broadcaster produces more than three times as much regional information with its share of fees as the radio station with the lowest conversion performance.

Difficult situation at regional television

Despite an increase in the share of fees, the situation of the licensed regional television stations continues to be very difficult, although up to 70 percent of operating expenses can now be covered by fees. Only two broadcasters are sufficiently profitable, and half are underfunded or overindebted. Although revenues from advertising and sponsorship have increased significantly since 2009, sales have recently stagnated again. With advertising revenues of CHF 40 million (excluding Tele Züri), regional television is still a marginal player in the Swiss advertising market.

Regional television stations also vary widely in how they convert the license fee money they receive into programming services: The most efficient broadcaster produces about seven times more regional information with the public funds than the regional television with the lowest conversion performance.

Since 2012, Publicom has been investigating the economic situation of licensed private broadcasting stations on behalf of the Federal Office of Communications and the industry associations. The abridged report of the study "The economic situation of private broadcasting in Switzerland - update (data basis 2012)" can be under this link can be downloaded.

The jury members of the Lions Health Festival, taking place for the first time from June 13 to 15, 2014, have been determined. Julian Astin, Creative Director at ICC Lowe represents Switzerland in the Health & Wellness category. Kathy Delaney, Global Chief Creative Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness presides over the Health & Wellness category and Jeremy Perrott, Global Chief Creative Officer at McCann presides over the Pharma category.

All jury members at a glance:

Pharma Lions Jury

Jeremy Perrott, Global Creative Director, McCann Health, Global - Jury President
Alexandra from Plato, President and Global Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, Global
Andrew Spurgeon, Creative Director, Langland, UK
Bruce Rooke, Chief Creativity Officer, GSW Worldwide, Global
Hugh Fitzhardinge, Creative Director, Ward6, Australia
Joshua Prince, Chief Creative Officer, The CDM Group, USA
Laura Schoen, President Global Healthcare and Chair Latin America, Weber Shandwick, Global/Latin America
Mauro Arruda, Managing Director, Chief Creative, Havas Life São Paulo, Brazil
Pierre Loo, Regional Professional Director - Creative, Red Fuse, Hong Kong
Vineet Bhagchandani, Group Chief Creative Officer & Vice President Operations, Aakanksha Healthcare, India

Health and Wellness Lions Jury

Kathy DelaneyGlobal Chief Creative Officer, Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness, Global - Jury President
Carolyn Paul, Global Managing Director, Health and European Health Practice Chair, Edelman, Global/Europe
Christian Bauman, Managing Director & Chief Creative Officer, H4B Chelsea, USA
Denis Mamo, Executive Creative Director, UrsaClemenger, Australia
Dick Dunford, Creative Partner, Loooped, UK
Elizabeth ivory, Partner, The CementBloc, USA
Jacqueline Nolan, Executive Creative Director, Digitas Health, USA
Julian Astin, Creative Director, ICC LOWE, Switzerland
Merlee Cruz-JaymeChair/Chief Creative Officer, DDB/DM9 Jayme Syfu, The Philippines
Mike Rogers, Creative Partner, Serviceplan Group for Innovative Communication, Germany
Pete Smith, Regional Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy CommonHealth, China
Peter Henshaw, Creative Director, inVentiv Health Europe, UK
Rob Rogers, Chief Creative Officer, Sudler, USA
Rui Piranda, Executive Creative Director, Giovanni + DraftFCB, Brazil

The Lions Health Festival focuses on communication on topics such as health, wellness and sustainability. Terry Savage, CEO Lions Festival: "We are delighted to welcome to Cannes this distinguished group of experts who excellently represent the global nature of healthcare communications. Their passion for the importance of creative excellence in communications will not only set the bar for Lions Health, but also influence the future of healthcare communications worldwide. We have exciting days ahead!"
 

As of March 3, 2014, Axel Eckstein will take over as Head of Creation together with existing Executive Creative Director Johannes Raggio and will become part of the management team of Leo Burnett Switzerland. This writes Leo Burnett in a statement on Friday.

"Still a lot of fun to create".

Peter Brönnimann, Advertiser of the year 2013After almost 12 years at Aemtlerstrasse, Brönnimann has decided to leave the agency, take some time off and then take on new challenges. Brönnimann has deliberately not given much thought to what this time-out will look like, as he tells Werbewoche.ch: "My plan is not to have a plan for a while after so many years - except for the fact that we will visit my parents-in-law in Australia in the summer. He also leaves the decision open as to what will follow after that. He can imagine anything, he says, including advertising. "I still very much enjoy creating good communication ideas." 

Peter Brönnimann, Advertiser of the Year 2013 (Image: Werbewoche/Isabel Imper)

No unexpected turn

Brönnimann has been with the agency since its launch in 2002 and has been jointly responsible for many award-winning campaigns. Among other things, Brönnimann was jointly responsible for the turnaround sets - the most awarded poster campaign in the world in 2013 (Werbewoche.ch reported). Did his life also take an unexpected turn here, or had his departure already been certain for some time? "You don't make such decisions overnight. For some time now, I've often felt the need for a change, and I'd also like to make other experiences. Andy Stäheli and I then drew up a roadmap together that left enough time to find a good successor. And I am glad that such a successor has been found in Axel Eckstein," says Brönnimann.

The separation followed "on good terms," as Leo Burnett CEO Andy Stäheli also confirmed to Werbewoche.ch: "100 percent! We've been on the road together for a very long time and I respect Peter's decision to take a break after almost twelve years at Aemtlerstrasse and to want to do something new afterwards." In the statement, he thanks Brönnimann "for his many years of commitment and his constant striving for fresh ideas."

Deep understanding of brands

With Axel Eckstein, Leo Burnett Switzerland gains a proven creative with almost 20 years of experience in major national and international agencies, who is an excellent fit for the agency, says Stäheli: "Axel has a deep understanding of brands and broad industry know-how, his constant drive for the new and his personal view of effective communication, have made him our preferred candidate in the Swiss market." Axel Eckstein is a member of ADC Switzerland, ADC Germany and the Account Planning Group Switzerland. "With Johannes Raggio as existing and Axel Eckstein as new Executive Creative Director, we are simultaneously counting on continuity and new momentum - and thus on the continued successful future of the agency" says Andy Stäheli.

Johannes Raggio and Axel Eckstein, Executive Creative Directors; Andy Stäheli, CEO

"Not only top professionally, but also as a person".

Stäheli is optimistic about the future and has no fear that Brönnimann will be followed by other top performers at the agency in the sense of a castling. "Our employees really enjoyed working with Peter - and I'm sure that they and our clients will enjoy working with Axel just as much," Stäheli told Werbewoche.ch. Eckstein is not only top-notch professionally, but also fits in perfectly with the existing team in human terms, he added. "We will continue to create popular brand ideas and thus move people and brands at an above-average rate. This credo is lived by all our employees and Axel also has the same understanding of efficient communication."

Thomas Häusermann

 

The exclusive private clinic on Lake Constance supports its patients with medical, therapeutic and nursing expertise as well as with a great deal of empathy on their way "back to health". In the image spot launched by Ammarkt and awarded a prize by the jury of experts, this "back" is conveyed in a new, independent and emotional way. Calm, catchy images convey the central idea of rehabilitation, which is entirely in line with the patients' wishes: "Back to a free way of life, back to family and friends, back to joie de vivre, back to health".

The patients of the clinic, the ambience, the park with lake access, the modern medical infrastructure, even the historic chapel are part of the new clinic communication. In addition to the commercial, this includes the newly designed CI/CD, the image brochure, a redesigned website for patients and referring physicians as well as image advertisements.

Responsible at Klinik Schloss Mammern: Beat Oehrli (Hospital Director), Annemarie Fleisch Marx, MD (Chief Physician), Ruth Fleisch-Silvestri, MD (Chief Physician), Dieter Kunz (Chairman). Responsible at Ammarkt: Ralf Kostgeld (Creative Direction), Fabian Bucher, Marcel Odermatt, Bettina Siegenthaler, Manuela Lüchinger (Consulting), Fabian Bucher, Michael Schmid (Strat. Planning), Christof Müller (Art Direction), Clarissa Krauss, Andrin Rohner, Fabienne Grass (Graphics), Günter Kasel (Text), Adrian Schiess, Jeremy Zahner, Julian Schattner (Digital), Mäggie Widmer, Bettina Siegenthaler (Media), Alessandra Leimer (Photography), Snap Film AG (Film Production), Michael Kindermann (Producer/Director), Jonas Jäggy (Cameraman), Lukas Gähwiler (Editor), Mariana Galyshyn (Composer/Music).
 

Ringier Digital, a subsidiary of Ringier, acquires all shares of Scout24 International Management in Baar (new: Classifieds Business Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs AG) and thus becomes the sole shareholder of the Scout24 Switzerland companies. Scout24 Schweiz Holding has been headquartered in Flamatt FR since 1998 and has already been 49.9 percent owned by Ringier since the end of 2007. With this significant investment in the profitable Scout24 Switzerland, Ringier is documenting its intention to further expand the Classified business as an important pillar of its digital strategy, according to a statement.

Thomas Kaiser, Chief Digital Officer Ringier and Managing Director Ringier Digital, sees clear advantages in the acquisition of the entire share capital: "Scout24 Switzerland has always been an integral part of Ringier Digital and is strongly linked operationally with the other Ringier Digital subsidiaries. With this historic step, we are consolidating the existing group of companies and laying the foundation for the next leap in growth."

Marc Walder, CEO Ringier: "This transaction is enormously important for Ringier. We have succeeded in strongly expanding our significant position in the digital classifieds market in Switzerland - i.e. jobs, real estate and automobiles."

The acquisition represents a further growth pillar for Ringier Digital. Over the past three years, Ringier Digital's average revenue growth has been 35 percent, with profitability rising sharply at the same time. With the full consolidation of Scout24 Switzerland, Ringier Digital will contribute over CHF 200 million to Ringier's total revenues in 2014.

Graphic: Scout24.ch

All submitted works can be viewed on Monday, January 27 from 6 to 9 pm. Admission is free. Director Dani Levy has been invited as a guest juror for this year's event (Interview Advertising Week 2013). Levy will be a member of the award jury on Wednesday. The ADC Awards 2014 will then be presented in the Maag Halle on Saturday, February 1, 2014.

17.30 Public award ceremony
20.00 ADC Gala (admission with ticket only)

Tickets for the ADC Gala can be purchased online via Adc.ch be purchased. As usual, one of the highlights will be the ADC gala magazine. This year, the author magazine "Cicero - Magazin für politische Kultur", published by Ringier, will become the unique "Cicero - ADC Magazin für Kreativkultur".

"The Million Trap" and "The Voice of Switzerland" were the focus of Romain Haenni's presentation from the SRF Multimedia Center. The most popular application was the music program, which also achieved a correspondingly high Onair rating. An average of 35,000 people took part in each of these broadcasts in the first quarter of 2013, with the final three live broadcasts attracting as many as 50,000 people. There was also the opportunity to take part as a virtual jury member. These votes had no influence on the result. However, those who took part were able to follow the trend among the online audience even before the result was announced. Of course, the support via a second screen is particularly interesting for a quiz. An average of 5000 people logged in to the Million Trap and then competed against each other.

Promotion is particularly important for the success of second-screen applications. For example, on November 11, 2013, the number of people playing the Million Trap increased by around 1,000 in one fell swoop after it was displayed that 68% of all online players had passed this question. As all players are logged in and have to provide various personal details, any number of evaluations are possible, such as the proportion of men or women who are still playing or which cantons have the most players, etc. The opportunity to qualify as an online candidate for participation in the studio was also particularly attractive.

Quiz programs are particularly suitable for accompanying activities on the second screen, but these must be based on simple question/answer pairs. In the case of live programs, the main focus is on discussing the current events. For documentary and fiction programs, on the other hand, the focus is on more in-depth information about the program. For SRF, the activities have resulted in higher usage in the target group of 15 to 49-year-olds. The reach increased by 45% and the market share by 18%. In terms of quality, second-screen activities have led to greater viewer integration and improved brand loyalty.

In terms of access technology, it has been shown that the app is far more popular than the website. Initially, 65% participated via the website, but this figure quickly fell to 15%. According to Romain Haenni, the remainder use an app, which quickly costs as much to develop as a mid-range car. The personnel costs should also not be underestimated. For example, the broadcasts of "The Voice" were accompanied by five people and "The Million Trap" by two people who sat directly in the broadcasting management.

However, there are still questions for the future. For example, a broadcaster must consider whether it makes more sense to offer an adaptable app for the broadcaster or for each individual program. This is because the station app is rather unfavorable for advertising, as it generates comparatively small numbers of users. For SRF, the ban on advertising on the internet also raises some tricky questions of definition. On the other hand, the app is increasingly becoming part of the license package for purchased formats (such as Millionenfalle).

Romain Haenni, SRF Multimedia Center presents the social media user figures at the Zunfthaus zum Rüden (Photo: Oscar Alessio)
 

Under competition law, the planned contribution to the joint venture of Ringier and Axel Springer is conditional on the sale of part of the Hungarian portfolio of Axel Springer and Ringier. The buyer is VCP Capital Partners (Vienna Capital Partners). In addition to the national daily Népszabadság and the business newspaper Világgazdaság, Vienna Capital Partners is acquiring several regional newspapers as well as sports, women's and youth magazines.

Ringier Axel Springer Hungary's portfolio will be composed of titles with a strong market position and very good digitization prospects, Ringier writes in a statement. It mainly comprises the tabloid and women's segment including the tabloid brand Blikk, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

The Blikk Group includes the tabloid Blikk and Blikk.hu, Hungary's biggest Sunday newspaper Vasarnapi Blikk, as well as the women's magazine Blikk Nők and other line extension titles. The portfolio will also include a range of women's magazines, TV magazines and licensed titles such as Glamour, Geo and Auto Bild and their respective online editions. Ringier's Kiado Kft. printing plant - the largest newspaper printing plant in the country - will be added to the Vienna Capital Partners portfolio. Axel Springer Hungary's newspaper printing plant, Nyomda Kft. in Kecskemet, will be part of the newly created country company.

CEO of Ringier Axel Springer Hungary will be Jozsef Bayer, the current CEO of Axel Springer in Hungary. Attila Mihók, current General Manager of Ringier Hungary, becomes the new CEO of the Vienna Capital Partners portfolio in Hungary.

Florian Fels, CEO Publishing of Ringier: "An excellent, future-oriented solution has been achieved for the employees and the development of the Hungarian business. Two new, strong media companies are being created - each equipped with a homogeneous portfolio - which on the one hand will preserve Hungarian media diversity and on the other hand will go their own way following a publishing idea. My special thanks go to Attila Mihók and his team at Ringier Hungary, who have accompanied this demanding process with professionalism and commitment."

Mark Dekan, CEO Ringier Axel Springer Media: "The expansion of our country portfolio to include Hungary means access for us as a Group to another interesting market in Central Europe. For the national company in Hungary, it means above all access to the technological and journalistic know-how of our joint venture. Ringier Axel Springer Media AG has significantly reorganized its portfolio over the past 15 months. Today, we already generate more than half of our revenues in the digital sector."

The closing of the transaction is subject to approval by the Hungarian competition and media authorities.

 

Naville will consider hiring these eleven employees, the media release said. Tamedia did not provide any details on the conditions, but assured that a social plan would apply to the affected employees. Naville is owned by the LS Distribution Suisse group, in which Lagardère Service holds 65 percent and Tamedia 35 percent. At the moment, only the Geneva region is affected, said Patrick Matthey, media spokesman for Tamedia's publications in western Switzerland. Truck drivers will also be outsourced. Five drivers are therefore to receive an offer from the Morand company in Ecublens VD or be able to take early retirement. (SDA)

Rita Meyer can look back on a long career in radio. The 42-year-old certified sales manager already worked for Radio 24 from 2000 to 2008 before moving to Radio 1, where she played a key role in building up the station's marketing. In her current position as head of Tilllate.com, she succeeded in driving forward the nightlife portal in the 20 Minuten network.

Roland Baumgartner, Managing Director of Radio Medien: "We are very happy that in Rita Meyer we have been able to win over a sales professional with many years of experience and a passion for the radio business. She is optimally networked in the Zurich advertising market and also knows Radio 24 very well. We are looking forward to working together."

"I owe a lot to Radio 24, including my entry into the media world. So I'm all the more pleased to be returning to my roots. I am proud to tackle this new challenge together with a professional team," says Meyer. Rita Meyer will take up her position on June 1, 2014 at the latest.

At the Australian Open, not only the Swiss tennis stars are making headlines, but also climate change with heat. With temperatures above 40 degrees, matches had to be canceled for the first time or took place under closed roofs. The ad that Myclimate is placing in Thursday's edition of 20 Minuten is therefore red-hot. Melbourne becomes Melburn, and the text clearly calls on sports fans all over the world to offset their CO2 emissions with Myclimate and thus help to stop global climate change. So that Stan and Roger can keep a cool head in Melbourne, even in the final rounds.

Responsible at Myclimate: René Estermann (Managing Director), Kathrin Dellantonio (Head of Marketing & Sales) , Andrea Altorfer (Deputy Head of Sales & Marketing), Kai Landwehr (Project Manager Marketing). Responsible at KSP Krieg Schlupp Partner: Flo Wacker (creative direction), Beat Egger (text), Benny Goldstein (art direction), Kevin Zysset, Paco Alborghetti (graphics), Flavia Meyer, Rahel Zumbühl (consulting).

On the subject:

KSP for Myclimate - Climate Change Switzerland
KSP for Myclimate - Going far with little money

 

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