"Nothing is ever blocked for us"
Espace Media Group CEO Albert P. Stäheli on the BZ baby Solothurner Tagblatt
Espace Media Group CEO Albert P. Stäheli on the BZ baby Solothurner TagblattThe six-month-old Solothurner Tagblatt (ST) currently has 1500 "certifiable copies"; according to Albert P. Stäheli, there should be 2500 by the end of the year. After six months, you will have 1500 authenticated copies of ST. However, the Berner Zeitung (BZ) already had 1100 subscribers in this area. Are you satisfied with just 400 copies?
Stäheli: Wait, we're talking about 1500 newly authenticated copies under the title ST.
1500 copies are few. The local advertising volume is also low.
Stäheli: Your interpretation is not correct, subscription sales are a very long-term thing in the traditionally sluggish regional newspaper market. 1500 copies is a very good result after such a short time. Entering saturated regional markets does not happen in a flash, we have prepared ourselves to take the long route. The fact that we are still slightly below the average of our other split editions in the advertising sector with half a paid advertising page per edition does not bother us at the moment, because this part of the market share development logically follows the reader market.
However, the fact that you are already rebuilding the ST and aligning it more locally shows a certain nervousness.
Stäheli: It's a normal process that after the initial launch phase comes the fine-tuning.
The Mittelland-Zeitung contract runs for five years. In five years' time, you hope to finally win the favor of the Solothurner Zeitung. However, Vogt-Schild's emotional reactions to your ST show that you have ruined this option.
Stäheli: Nothing is ever blocked for us, we remain completely open and objective. But we are also realists. Today, Vogt-Schild is strongly influenced by PubliGroupe, which has a significant stake in the site and is also the full leaseholder. However, PubliGroupe has never chosen a strategy that would have been in favor of the BZ; instead, it fights this owner-operated newspaper wherever it can. Interview: Markus Knöpfli
Stäheli: Wait, we're talking about 1500 newly authenticated copies under the title ST.
1500 copies are few. The local advertising volume is also low.
Stäheli: Your interpretation is not correct, subscription sales are a very long-term thing in the traditionally sluggish regional newspaper market. 1500 copies is a very good result after such a short time. Entering saturated regional markets does not happen in a flash, we have prepared ourselves to take the long route. The fact that we are still slightly below the average of our other split editions in the advertising sector with half a paid advertising page per edition does not bother us at the moment, because this part of the market share development logically follows the reader market.
However, the fact that you are already rebuilding the ST and aligning it more locally shows a certain nervousness.
Stäheli: It's a normal process that after the initial launch phase comes the fine-tuning.
The Mittelland-Zeitung contract runs for five years. In five years' time, you hope to finally win the favor of the Solothurner Zeitung. However, Vogt-Schild's emotional reactions to your ST show that you have ruined this option.
Stäheli: Nothing is ever blocked for us, we remain completely open and objective. But we are also realists. Today, Vogt-Schild is strongly influenced by PubliGroupe, which has a significant stake in the site and is also the full leaseholder. However, PubliGroupe has never chosen a strategy that would have been in favor of the BZ; instead, it fights this owner-operated newspaper wherever it can. Interview: Markus Knöpfli