However, half-year sales rose by 6 percent year-on-year to CHF 536.8 million. This was announced by Tamedia in a communiqué on Thursday. In parallel to sales, operating profit Ebit also increased.

The EBIT margin was 11.9 percent (previous year: 11.7 percent). The bottom line was income from continuing operations of 54.8 million Swiss francs (previous year: 53.4 million Swiss francs). This corresponds to an increase of 2.6 percent. In contrast to the previous year, however, there are no longer any discontinued operations as of the balance sheet date, Tamedia continues. The overall result including discontinued operations is therefore lower at CHF 54.7 million than in the previous year at CHF 67.8 million.

The decline in sales in Print National was mainly due to the commuter newspaper 20 Minuten, 20 minutes, the women's magazine Annabelle and the Sunday newspaper, Tamedia said.

The Digital business segment reported a jump in revenues of 81.1 per cent from CHF 61.8 million to CHF 111.9 million. The pleasing development was due in particular to the first-time inclusion of Job Cloud (Tamedia share currently 62.9 per cent) and Fashion Friends (Tamedia share 65.0 per cent) for a full six months, as well as the first-time consolidation of Olmero/Renovero (Tamedia share 92.8 per cent) in April 2013. The news platforms 20 Minuten and Newsnet also reported a slight improvement in earnings, with an increase in revenues. Investments in the expansion of the directory platform Search.ch were reflected in a positive revenue performance, while the real estate portal Homegate.ch maintained revenues and earnings at a high level.

Tamedia expects the advertising market environment for print media to continue to decline in the second half of the year, the statement continues. In the coming months, the media group will therefore concentrate on improving earnings in the Print Regional and Print National business segments through measures to increase sales and efficiency, as well as investing further in digital offerings.

Following approval by the Swiss Federal Competition Commission, Tamedia plans to acquire 75 percent of the shares in the ticket marketer Starticket. In the classifieds and car advertising market, a cooperation with the Norwegian media company Schibsted is also planned, in which Tamedia will contribute Car4you.ch as well as Piazza.ch and Schibsted Tutti.ch.
 

In addition to animation and sound design, Level Two's main focus was on the design of
"Kroni". According to the agency, his dungarees are based on the outfits of the Kronenberger employees. The room and the windows were rotated at the Renzen & Partner agency, with original Kronenberger plastic windows installed and a parquet floor laid.

Responsible at Kronenberger Fenster: Christian Käser (CEO), Philippe Messmer (Sales Manager Professional). Responsible at Renzen & Partner: Achim Kaufmann (Art Director), Alain Götschi (Account Executive). Responsible at Level Two: Daniel Wyss (Producer), Gregor Rott (Director/Motion Design), Simon Huber (DOP), Margit Gassner, Thomas Voss, Semir Saleh (3D Artist), Werner Haltinner (Sound Design).

Marc Lehman and Jürg Trösch will continue to manage the company together as managing partners. This was announced by Linkgroup in a press release on Thursday. With the acquisition of a further block of shares from the previous majority shareholder Jürg Trösch, Marc Lehmann, Linkgroup's long-standing managing director, is increasing his financial involvement in the company. Jürg Trösch, who built up the group of companies, will remain a managing partner with a minority stake in the company.

The new ownership structure is intended to create the conditions for the continuation of the company's business activities, which have been successful for many years, according to the press release. Linkgroup specializes in the production of electronic and printed media, with around 70 employees and an annual turnover of around CHF 18 million. As members of the Board of Directors and sole shareholders, Marc Lehmann and Jürg Trösch are jointly responsible for the economic success, strategic direction and further development of the company.

It is now to be launched at the beginning of 2014. Tamedia originally wanted to charge for some of the content on the Newsnet pages before the end of this year. On Thursday, Tonini explained at a telephone conference on the half-year results (Werbewoche.ch reported) explained the delay by saying that the technical implementation was "more challenging than expected". Ultimately, however, it does not matter whether the paywall is set up a few months earlier or later. The important thing is that it works right from the start and is user-friendly. However, the current goal of introducing it in the first three months of next year is realistic from today's perspective.

According to earlier information, the paywall will first be introduced on the Tages-Anzeiger Internet portal and then on all the Group's other regional and weekly newspapers. The offerings of 20 Minuten will remain free of charge. Tonini said on Thursday that the paywall is intended to counteract the decline in earnings of the print titles. (uma/SDA)

Screen-up 2013 will take place on September 26 at Kaufleuten Zurich. The event offers a glimpse into the future of the Swiss television market. Broadcasting executives from Switzerland and Germany will announce directly which new TV formats will be on air from the fall.

The screen-up begins at 1.30 p.m. with a welcome from the organizers, followed by a half-hour talk at 2.00 p.m. before the channel screenings start promptly at 2.30 p.m. and show which formats are set to trigger emotions in the coming year. This will be followed by an aperitif and stand-up dinner before the TV day comes to an end at 9 p.m. with the screen-up party and a few surprises.

Registration for the screen-up on September 26, 2013 at Kaufleuten in Zurich herer.

With the headline "Taking out mortgages online? But secure!", TBS & Partner wants to get to the heart of its message: The Product was created in collaboration with Zürcher Kantonalbank. In just a few steps, homeowners and those who want to become one can take out their mortgage from the comfort of their own home. Those responsible paid particular attention to transparency and security.

The campaign focuses on an archetypal detached house moving at high speed through a network cable - realized in a striking visual language that is characteristic of Homegate.ch. The advertising materials include posters, advertisements, online banners and a flyer including a give-away, which will be distributed to commuters as part of a nationwide promotional campaign.

Responsible at Homegate.ch: Daniel Bruckhoff (Head of Marketing), Marco Pavoni (Marketing Coordinator Products). Responsible at TBS & Partner: Jürg Neuenschwander (Executive Creative Director), Olivier Mentha (Consulting and Text), Thomas Geissberger (Design), Andreas Gloor (Polygraphy). Responsible at Frame Eleven: Marc Haas (Creative Director), Oliver Aemisegger (Art Director), Fabio Quaggiotto (3D Artist).

In the spot, a young man turns to Mobiliar because - inspired by Internet swing films in the office - he wanted his colleague and amateur swinger to show him a few holds. Unfortunately, the two of them have chosen the server room for swinging and have thus maneuvered themselves into a somewhat ambiguous situation.

Christoph Ott, Head of Advertising CI/CD at Mobiliar, emphasizes that the company supports the Swiss National Wrestling Championships because the sport manages to unite traditional and modern Switzerland and represents the same values as Mobiliar: fairness, tradition and regional roots. This is also what the new TV spot is supposed to show: "We deliberately didn't want to shoot a spot in a rustic setting," says Andi Portmann, Creative Director at Wirz, " but to show that the sport of wrestling is popular in everyday Swiss life."

Responsible at Mobiliar: Christoph Ott (Head of Advertising & CI/CD), Marianne Sterchi (Project Manager Advertising). Responsible at Wirz: Philipp Skrabal (ECD), Andi Portmann (CD), Hanning Beland, Florian Molinari (AD), Bianca Kury, Winfried Schneider (Text), Urs Hirschi, Yves Rückert, Stefan Schmid (Consulting). Responsible at Wirz: Fraefel Paal: Ernst Wirz (director), Stefan Fraefel, Gabi Benz. Sound: Jingle Jungle. Responsible at PHD Switzerland: Peter Hüssy (Account Director).
 

The agency will now design and implement the new B2C websites for the "BMC" and "Stromer" brands, as well as a special B2B platform for dealers. The new Stromer website will go live at the beginning of 2014, followed in a later step by the BMC website (mid-2014) and the B2B portal (end of 2014).

The proposed solution for BMC and Stromer's B2C sites is designed to make the user king. It impressed in the pitch with a strong focus on design, usability and user integration, the agency said in a statement Thursday. The sites are to be translated into six languages each.
 

The campaign was launched on August 19, 2013. "What is the best medicine for you?" asks Swica. In this way, the campaign is intended to become a source of inspiration right away. Because, according to the agency, it's often the little things that do us good: a smile, taking the stairs every day, or even taking the digital world offline for a change, as well as fair conditions, honest consultations, offers for active people who enjoy a healthy lifestyle - and high-quality medical services if they ever need to be used. This is precisely what the new TV commercial, for which Bastian Baker provided the music, is designed to address.

In addition, Swica is anchored as the partner for the best medicine with advertisements and rail posters for private and corporate customers.

Swica is also making targeted use of digital media for the campaign. For example, a specially developed iPad consultation presentation is used during consultations. And Swica wants to maintain a dialog with its target group via social media, direct mailings designed by the agency, and an online cooperation campaign, all of which are linked to specific landing pages.

The St.Gallen agency's campaign is used throughout corporate publishing.

Responsible at Swica health organization: Walter Lutz (Head of Market Department), Michael Schneider (Head of Marketing & Advertising), Helena Gubernale (Brand Management Specialist). Responsible at Ammarkt: Michael Schmid (overall responsibility), Ralf Kostgeld (creative direction), Erika Müller-Lusti (consulting), Jan Walser, Nicole Bernhardsgrütter (art direction), Selin Hofer, Lukas Wüst (graphics), Günter Kasel, Aron Herz (text), Lea Hobi, Sandra Küng (print production), Adrian Schiess, Jeremy Zahner (digital), Thomas Zellweger (media). TV production: Shining Pictures. Directed by: Luki Frieden. Camera: Holger Diener. Sound: Hastings, Zurich. Photography: Eva Bozzo.

The Committee for Transport and Telecommunications of the National Council (KVF) has spoken out in favor of "opting out" in a decision in principle, the parliamentary services announced on Tuesday. This means that households without a reception device could continue to be exempt from the fee. The decision was made by 14 votes to 10.

The Commission wants to prevent households from having to pay the fee if they do not receive radio and television programs. It should not be possible for companies to deregister. The minority of the Commission does not want to allow households to deregister either.

TV on the computer

The reason for the planned system change to a device-independent fee is that radio and TV stations can be received via the internet - on computers, smartphones or tablets. This means that even those who do not own a TV set can watch TV and listen to the radio. That is why everyone should pay (Werbewoche.ch reported).

If households could opt out, the disadvantages of the current system would be carried over into the new one, argue the opponents of "opting out". This would result in higher administrative and control costs. The committee has now commissioned further clarifications from the Federal Administration and intends to decide on the opting-out regulation and the levy system as a whole in October.

Not about value added tax

The KVF has already decided what it does not want. For example, it has spoken out against financing the public service in radio and television via VAT. The committee also rejects a levy that would be collected together with direct federal tax.

It also wants private broadcasters to continue to receive at least 4% from the fee pot. By 19 votes to 4, it proposed that the private broadcasters' share of fees be set at 4 to 5 percent instead of the 3 to 5 percent proposed by the Federal Council. The range is intended to ensure that any surpluses can be used at a later date.

With regard to the surpluses accumulated to date from fee-splitting, the committee only narrowly supported the Federal Council's proposal to refund these to fee-payers by 12 votes to 11. The opponents would like to use the surpluses for the education and training of media professionals and for the promotion of new technologies.

Fees to fall

The National Council and Council of States have already discussed device-independent radio and TV fees in connection with proposals from Parliament. Both councils spoke out in favor of device-independent fees.

Today, the reception fee for households is around CHF 462 per year. According to the Federal Council, the annual amount would be reduced to around CHF 400 in future. Family businesses and companies with an annual turnover of less than CHF 500,000 are to be exempt from the fee. The same applies to people who receive state supplementary benefits.

The Federal Council's proposals were controversial during the consultation process. The business umbrella organization Economiesuisse, for example, called for the possibility of being exempted from the levy "in the event of deliberate non-consumption" of the public media service. The National Council is expected to discuss the bill in the winter session. (SDA)

Teaser image: Keystone
 

The provisional station Hellenic Public Television (Ellinikí Dimósia Teleórasi - EDT) has been broadcasting from a private studio on the frequencies of the old state television station since mid-July. Previously, there had only been an emergency program of films, documentaries and music shows. The state secretary responsible, Pantelis Kapsis, spoke of a temporary solution. A new, smaller state television station is to go on air in the next few months.

Head of government Antonis Samaras closed the state broadcaster ERT in June and demanded massive staff cuts. Since then, the ex-employees have occupied the TV building and a protest program has been broadcast online.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had sharply criticized the closure of ERT and continued to broadcast its protest programme via satellite. However, it now wants to discontinue this: The basic demand for news on state television had now been met. (SDA)

On the subject: Greece discontinues state media

Teaser image: Keystone