Higher pulse for "Health consultation hour"
Since the TV show «Gesundheit Sprechstunde» will be broadcast weekly starting in 2009, adjustments are also necessary for the print magazine of the same name.
The cooperation agreement between Presse TV (PTV), Swiss Television and SRG announced in May stipulates, among other things, that although less broadcasting time will be available to publishers' television from 2009, most PTV programs will now be placed on SF1 and therefore more prominently. This will have an impact on the content of some PTV channels. For example, the fortnightly Ringier program "Gesundheit Sprechstunde" (GES) will be reduced from 50 to 25 minutes, but will be broadcast weekly from 2009. Ringier TV is currently in the process of adapting the program accordingly.
However, the changes also affect the biweekly magazine of the same name, which supplements and deepens the programs with additional information and services. Ringier was initially faced with the question of whether the publication rhythm of the magazine should also be changed to once a week. However, this was decided against. "Gesundheit Sprechstunde will continue to be published fortnightly for the time being - for budgetary reasons: The editorial team would have to be doubled for a weekly publication," says Fibo Deutsch, Head of Ringier's Health Unit. However, he does not rule out the possibility that GES-Print could be adapted to the cadence of the GES program at a later date.
However, one thing is clear: the magazine, which has a stable reach of 589,000 readers, will be given a new look at the start of the new year, as will the program. "GES wants to remain the clear number one for all things health in the future. We want to achieve this with relevance, competence and credibility," says Publishing Director Ratna Irzan.
A study and an agency pitch have already been carried out. "The market research has largely confirmed our content strategy: Competent information on medical problems is well received," says Deutsch. And Irzan adds: "Readers are satisfied with the mix of topics, and the inclusion of complementary medicine is particularly appreciated." The only thing readers wanted was more tips on nutrition and prevention.
What really surprised the editors and publishers, however, was that the GES booklets are often kept for up to three years. That's why they want to increase the collection value with registers and storage boxes. Deutsch also wants to strengthen the marketing for the magazine and program. GES has often featured a primeur, but it only met with a positive response when other media picked it up. In future, he therefore wants to promote the original source - GES - more clearly.
Markus Knöpfli
However, the changes also affect the biweekly magazine of the same name, which supplements and deepens the programs with additional information and services. Ringier was initially faced with the question of whether the publication rhythm of the magazine should also be changed to once a week. However, this was decided against. "Gesundheit Sprechstunde will continue to be published fortnightly for the time being - for budgetary reasons: The editorial team would have to be doubled for a weekly publication," says Fibo Deutsch, Head of Ringier's Health Unit. However, he does not rule out the possibility that GES-Print could be adapted to the cadence of the GES program at a later date.
However, one thing is clear: the magazine, which has a stable reach of 589,000 readers, will be given a new look at the start of the new year, as will the program. "GES wants to remain the clear number one for all things health in the future. We want to achieve this with relevance, competence and credibility," says Publishing Director Ratna Irzan.
A study and an agency pitch have already been carried out. "The market research has largely confirmed our content strategy: Competent information on medical problems is well received," says Deutsch. And Irzan adds: "Readers are satisfied with the mix of topics, and the inclusion of complementary medicine is particularly appreciated." The only thing readers wanted was more tips on nutrition and prevention.
What really surprised the editors and publishers, however, was that the GES booklets are often kept for up to three years. That's why they want to increase the collection value with registers and storage boxes. Deutsch also wants to strengthen the marketing for the magazine and program. GES has often featured a primeur, but it only met with a positive response when other media picked it up. In future, he therefore wants to promote the original source - GES - more clearly.
Markus Knöpfli
Less time and money
The new contract between Presse TV, SF and SRG applies from 2009 and reduces PTV's broadcasting time from around 14,500 minutes to 8,500 minutes per year. The remuneration PTV received from SRG for advertising and production will also shrink from CHF 12 million per year to less than half. As a result, PTV will have to cut three out of twelve programs: 100 Minuten, Konsum.tv and Fussballtalk. Presse TV was founded in 1995. The current shareholders are Ringier and NZZ (30 percent each), the German publishing consortium DCTP (20 percent) as well as Basler Zeitung Medien and Axel Springer Schweiz (10 percent each). (mk)
