Flop of the week: Decline in advertising revenues in February

At CHF 238.8 million, Group sales were CHF 4.4 million higher than in the previous year. AZ Medien achieved the best result in the company's history. The pleasing business result is primarily due to sales growth in the regional advertising markets, process optimization measures in Systems & Services and media production. The decline in national advertising revenue since mid-2011, particularly for daily newspapers, and the downturn in the job advertisements segment prevented significant revenue growth at Group level. Operating income at newspaper publishers improved by CHF 0.4 million (+0.3%) compared to the previous year. Magazines and books recorded a decline of CHF 1.0 million (-2.8% compared to the previous year). Printing and distribution generated CHF 5.3 million more than in the previous year (+12.4%), as did radio and television with an increase of CHF 1.3 million (+10.1%) compared to the previous year