Now lifestyle is also soon to cost nothing

At the end of October, Tamedia is launching the people magazine 20 Minuten Friday together with Tilllate and Annabelle, and Newsnetz recently reported that Ringier is apparently also working on a free lifestyle magazine. But that's not all. The concert agency Good News Productions, in which Deutsche Entertainment AG (DEAG) has a 52 percent stake and Ringier a 48 percent stake, is also currently considering a magazine with similar content. "Ringier and we are each developing our own concepts independently of each other. They should take into account the respective needs," says André Béchir, founder and managing director of Good-News. Based on this, a decision will be made by the end of September as to whether something joint can be realized. Otherwise, two parallel magazines would probably be launched.
The reason for the activities at Good News: The concert agency needs a replacement for the nightlife magazine Week, which it had published together with 20 Minuten since 2003 and distributed every 14 days in a total circulation of 90′ 000 copies - of which 60,000 copies were distributed on Fridays via the boxes of 20 Minuten. In June, Tamedia had terminated the contract because of its own project and ceased distribution via boxes as of July 3 - surprisingly for Good News and Ringier. "We definitely need a general interest magazine to reach a wider audience," says Béchir.
However, the new concept is not yet in place. The budget is also still open. Béchir is looking for new partners. "We also need an editorial team," he says. What is certain is that the new magazine will revolve around entertainment, lifestyle, people and, of course, music. Everything else is up for discussion. Week, which last reported a readership of 229,000, was published in tabloid format and ran to 40 pages, 6 of which were editorial and 3 extra for members. The editorial section was produced by 20 Minuten.
Béchir makes no secret of the fact that he would prefer a cooperation with a Ringier title. "This would really be an opportunity for Ringier, because thanks to our contacts in showbiz, we could facilitate interviews with various stars," he says. Is he thinking of Blick or Blick am Abend? Béchir waves it off: Blick is already working with a competitor - and that contract doesn't seem to be up for grabs. But for Béchir it is clear: So far, the full potential of Good News has not been exploited. It is true that the cooperation between 20 Minuten and Good News was "very good". "But in the end, the heart and soul was missing. Week could have been turned into something more exciting," he says. That's one reason why Week has slowly but steadily lost readers since its launch.
Markus Knöpfli

Wings for Good News
The unexpected termination of the contract by Tamedia necessitated a summer break for Week. However, from August 28 and until the end of the year, the magazine will be published again every 14 days and with 30,000 copies. It will be sent to the 15,000 or so Good News members and displayed in companies. And Tamedia remains committed: 20 Minuten will continue to provide the six editorial Week pages and, on top of that, print them in its own newspaper every Tuesday after Week appears. This will temporarily give Good News a mega reach. (mk)
Facts about Good News Productions
Shareholders: Deutsche Entertainment AG (DEAG) 52 %, Ringier 48 %. Ringier has the majority of votes
occasions per year: 80-100
Visitors per year: 600'000 to 800'000
Turnover per year: 50 million francs
Employees: 20
Subsidiaries: Fortissimo AG (production) and EM Event Marketing AG (events)