Free newspapers rebuffed by the Competition Commission
Even if Publicitas does not list certain free newspapers in the print directory on www.publicitas.ch, but does list competing products, it cannot be shown to have engaged in unlawful conduct.
Even if Publicitas does not list certain free newspapers in the print directory on www.publicitas.ch, but does list competing products, no unlawful conduct can be proven, writes the Secretariat of the Competition Commission (ComCo) in its response to a complaint from Willy Grüninger, publisher of Winterthurer Woche and Schaffhauser Bock. Grüninger, also president of the Swiss Free Newspaper Association, wrote in September that Publicitas (P) was discriminating against the independent free newspapers, despite a cooperation agreement, because P had concluded lease agreements with the corresponding competitor products that were more lucrative than the mere brokerage business.
The Competition Commission Secretariat countered that the P website was still under construction. In principle, P had declared its willingness to accept any title. Furthermore, the volume of internet orders currently corresponds to less than one percent of orders, which is why even newspapers that are not (yet) listed on the website only have to accept "marginal losses". What's more, Winterthurer Woche and Schaffhauser Bock were recently added to www.publicitas.ch.
But not Biel/Bienne. The Competition Commission Secretariat is therefore warning P: it is "aware of PubliGroupe's powerful market position in the placement of advertising space in Switzerland", it says. It therefore reserves the right to initiate formal proceedings if there are any indications of unlawful conduct (mk).
The Competition Commission Secretariat countered that the P website was still under construction. In principle, P had declared its willingness to accept any title. Furthermore, the volume of internet orders currently corresponds to less than one percent of orders, which is why even newspapers that are not (yet) listed on the website only have to accept "marginal losses". What's more, Winterthurer Woche and Schaffhauser Bock were recently added to www.publicitas.ch.
But not Biel/Bienne. The Competition Commission Secretariat is therefore warning P: it is "aware of PubliGroupe's powerful market position in the placement of advertising space in Switzerland", it says. It therefore reserves the right to initiate formal proceedings if there are any indications of unlawful conduct (mk).
