Scuffles at Press TV
The new Jean Frey AG wants a 10 percent share in publisher television
The new Jean Frey AG wants a 10 percent share in publisher televisionBy Markus Knöpfli In order for Bilanz to continue its business talk on Press TV, its now independent mother Jean Frey AG would actually have to become a shareholder in publisher television on SF 2. Whether it will be allowed to do so has not yet been decided. Ringier could get in the way.
The proposal has been on the table since March 15, when the Presse-TV Board of Directors met for the last time: The Basler Mediengruppe (BM) will cede half of its 20 percent share in Verlegerfernsehen to its former subsidiary Jean Frey AG, which would enable the latter to also become a shareholder and contribute its programs. However, this in turn would be the long-term prerequisite for Jean Frey AG to continue the business talk program Bilanz within the framework of Presse-TV and, if necessary, to launch other projects.
Under normal circumstances, the inclusion of Jean Frey AG would probably be a formality, as none of the other Presse-TV shareholders (Ringier 30%, NZZ 30%, the German publishing group DCTP 20%) have anything against an additional shareholder - all the more so as its Business Talk already achieves decent ratings. BM CEO Beat Meyer agrees: "Kicking them out would not be in the interests of Press TV, because Bilanz-Business-Talk is a good show."
Is the Beobachter canceling its Ringier TV sponsorship?
But the current circumstances are not "normal", as the row between BM and Ringier over the aborted Jean Frey deal has cast its shadow all the way to the Press TV Board of Directors. Among others, two people who have preferred to avoid each other for several months now sit on the board: Beat Meyer and - more recently - Ringier COO Martin Werfeli.
The latter says openly that he sees the cooperation between BM and Ringier "handicapped at Presse-TV", because "of course we have a different view of the characteristics of those responsible at BM". He adds meaningfully: "The development at Presse-TV remains to be seen." But this much is certain: if BM really wants to sell 10 percent, the other shareholders have a right of first refusal. It has not yet been decided whether Ringier will exercise this right, but Werfeli says he will examine it in detail.
But what will happen to Bilanz-Business-Talk if Ringier actually exercises its right of first refusal - or if BM withdraws its offer under such circumstances? "This program can still be made on Presse-TV, even without Jean Frey AG as a shareholder. A form of cooperation will be found," says Werfeli with a shrug, referring to the interim arrangement that has been in place since Jean Frey AG became independent. However, the distribution of advertising revenue around the talk has not yet been negotiated.
If Ringier Jean Frey AG does indeed put a spanner in the works, this would also have a (small) barb for Switzerland's largest media group: Presumably, the observer from Jean Frey would discontinue its sponsorship of Ringier's Konsum-TV - as part of Presse-TV - especially as Ringier is working on its own consumer magazine. A statement from Jean Frey CEO Filippo Leutenegger was not available.
The proposal has been on the table since March 15, when the Presse-TV Board of Directors met for the last time: The Basler Mediengruppe (BM) will cede half of its 20 percent share in Verlegerfernsehen to its former subsidiary Jean Frey AG, which would enable the latter to also become a shareholder and contribute its programs. However, this in turn would be the long-term prerequisite for Jean Frey AG to continue the business talk program Bilanz within the framework of Presse-TV and, if necessary, to launch other projects.
Under normal circumstances, the inclusion of Jean Frey AG would probably be a formality, as none of the other Presse-TV shareholders (Ringier 30%, NZZ 30%, the German publishing group DCTP 20%) have anything against an additional shareholder - all the more so as its Business Talk already achieves decent ratings. BM CEO Beat Meyer agrees: "Kicking them out would not be in the interests of Press TV, because Bilanz-Business-Talk is a good show."
Is the Beobachter canceling its Ringier TV sponsorship?
But the current circumstances are not "normal", as the row between BM and Ringier over the aborted Jean Frey deal has cast its shadow all the way to the Press TV Board of Directors. Among others, two people who have preferred to avoid each other for several months now sit on the board: Beat Meyer and - more recently - Ringier COO Martin Werfeli.
The latter says openly that he sees the cooperation between BM and Ringier "handicapped at Presse-TV", because "of course we have a different view of the characteristics of those responsible at BM". He adds meaningfully: "The development at Presse-TV remains to be seen." But this much is certain: if BM really wants to sell 10 percent, the other shareholders have a right of first refusal. It has not yet been decided whether Ringier will exercise this right, but Werfeli says he will examine it in detail.
But what will happen to Bilanz-Business-Talk if Ringier actually exercises its right of first refusal - or if BM withdraws its offer under such circumstances? "This program can still be made on Presse-TV, even without Jean Frey AG as a shareholder. A form of cooperation will be found," says Werfeli with a shrug, referring to the interim arrangement that has been in place since Jean Frey AG became independent. However, the distribution of advertising revenue around the talk has not yet been negotiated.
If Ringier Jean Frey AG does indeed put a spanner in the works, this would also have a (small) barb for Switzerland's largest media group: Presumably, the observer from Jean Frey would discontinue its sponsorship of Ringier's Konsum-TV - as part of Presse-TV - especially as Ringier is working on its own consumer magazine. A statement from Jean Frey CEO Filippo Leutenegger was not available.
