Ringier also gives print titles an Internet injection
To strengthen the advertising business for its numerous print publications, Ringier Publishing is focusing on the Internet. As publisher Michael Ringier said at the fall media breakfast in Zurich, this is the only way to secure advertising revenue in the future.
In order to strengthen the advertising business of its numerous print products, Ringier Verlag is pushing the Internet as a medium. As publisher Michael Ringier said at the fall media breakfast in Zurich, this is the only way to secure advertising income in the future. The Internet has massively changed the business basis of Switzerland's largest publishing house. For this reason, Ringier is pushing ahead with digitization in 2007. Ringier wants to profit from the current gap between Internet use and Internet advertising business. Young people already get around 20 percent of their media consumption from the Internet. At the same time, however, less than 5 percent of the advertising business is generated on the Internet. A training ground for multimedia: Cash daily Cash daily is an example of where his publishing house is heading, Ringier continued. The close connection to the corresponding Internet platform and other products in the Cash family brings readers multimedia offerings ranging from web papers and audio offerings to videos, TV and podcasts. According to Ringier, the new multimedia offering has been well received by customers, although specific user figures are not yet available. With a daily circulation of around 70,000 copies, the free Cash daily currently reaches around 120,000 readers. Sales of 100,000 copies are targeted for next year. Hard user data will follow in 2007.
According to Ringier CEO Martin Werfeli, the free newspaper Heute, which was launched in May, has also made a good start with 170,000 copies distributed daily. However, he conceded that both newly launched free papers have been given three to five years to become profitable.
Blick to be relaunched Ringier only made hints about the tabloid Blick, whose circulation continues to decline. Ringier said that "very far-reaching thoughts" are currently being given to this issue. Changes and investments at Blick will be a focus in 2007. It is clear that - in line with the Internet strategy - Blick-Online will be significantly expanded. The publisher is currently looking for 150 people from the cantons of Lucerne and Zurich to undergo a reader scan on the Blick website. They are looking for data that shows how Blick is read.
In connection with all the new launches, Werfeli spoke of an absolute record year in 2006, with the publishing house bringing 14 new titles onto the market - a good proportion in Osteueropa. The new launches led to a further single-digit percentage increase in sales in 2006 (2005: 1.26 billion Swiss francs). Due to the high costs of new launches, however, profits will shrink.
According to Ringier CEO Martin Werfeli, the free newspaper Heute, which was launched in May, has also made a good start with 170,000 copies distributed daily. However, he conceded that both newly launched free papers have been given three to five years to become profitable.
Blick to be relaunched Ringier only made hints about the tabloid Blick, whose circulation continues to decline. Ringier said that "very far-reaching thoughts" are currently being given to this issue. Changes and investments at Blick will be a focus in 2007. It is clear that - in line with the Internet strategy - Blick-Online will be significantly expanded. The publisher is currently looking for 150 people from the cantons of Lucerne and Zurich to undergo a reader scan on the Blick website. They are looking for data that shows how Blick is read.
In connection with all the new launches, Werfeli spoke of an absolute record year in 2006, with the publishing house bringing 14 new titles onto the market - a good proportion in Osteueropa. The new launches led to a further single-digit percentage increase in sales in 2006 (2005: 1.26 billion Swiss francs). Due to the high costs of new launches, however, profits will shrink.
