AZ Medien with very good business result in 2012
AZ Medien posted a net income of 19.0 million Swiss francs in fiscal year 2012. This exceeded the previous year's result by 4.1 million Swiss francs (+27.5 percent).
The positive result was influenced by extraordinary, one-off income, according to an AZ Medien press release. The Langenthaler Tagblatt was sold to Tamedia and the majority stake in Radio 32 had to be sold due to legal requirements. At CHF 251.7 million, Group sales are CHF 12.9 million higher than in the previous year, mainly due to the consolidation of the TV stations Tele Züri and Tele Bärn.
The result from operating activities Ebita decreased by 9.8 percent to 33.0 million francs. AZ Medien, like the entire media industry, was affected by declining income from national advertising in the daily newspapers and Sunday editions, the press release continues. As a result, the revenue targets in the regional advertising market could not be fully achieved.
AZ Medien's annual report will be published at the beginning of May. The Annual General Meeting will take place on May 31, 2013.
Online portal: Investments are being reviewed
According to SDA, AZ publisher Peter Wanner has announced that investments in an online portal are being examined. The project in question is that of Hansi Voigt, the former editor-in-chief of 20 Minunten Online. The business plan is now being studied and a decision will be made in the coming weeks, Wanner announced.
In addition, the media company is also planning to introduce a paywall for AZ Medien's current online offering, as Wanner says according to SDA. It is not acceptable to continue to put everything online for free - especially the local and cantonal content.
