Comedia criticizes Weko decision: Media are not chewing gum
The media trade union Comedia doubts that the ComCo is the right institution to decide on the consequences of a merger of national scope on the media market alone.
The media union Comedia doubts that the Competition Commission is the right institution to decide on the consequences of a merger of national scope on the media market. Newspapers are not chewing gum: the advertising market of two regional free newspapers cannot be the sole criterion for approving the takeover of the domestic business of the French-speaking Swiss media company Edipresse by the Zurich-based Tamedia.
The takeover of Edipresse makes Tamedia the largest media company in the Swiss daily newspaper sector and a monopolist in the market for free morning newspapers throughout the country. A good half of the paid daily newspapers in Switzerland are now owned by Tamedia as a result of the merger. In effect, the Zurich publishing house now has a monopoly on opinion, which calls into question the supposed diversity of the Swiss press and opens the floodgates to corporate journalism. However, Bakom, which has more extensive powers in this respect than Weko, remains silent.
The increased exchange of articles at the Bernese "Bund" and Zurich "Tages-Anzeiger" already shows what press diversity looks like under the guise of Tamedia: newspapers with largely identical content appear under different titles. It is therefore all the more worrying that in its decision, the Competition Commission has even refrained from imposing conditions on the media company, which will in future dominate the whole of Switzerland, that could guarantee the independence of the editorial offices concerned.
No profitability at the expense of staff
As announced, "20 Minutes", the free paper launched by the Zurich media house to fight "Le Matin Bleu", will soon swallow up its former competitor from Edipresse. Once again, numerous journalists will be put out on the street. Together with the employees of Tamedia and Edipresse, Comedia will defend itself against the redundancies expected as a result of the takeover and is calling on Tamedia to completely refrain from dismissals in future and to guarantee everyone continued employment in the national company that has now been approved.
The takeover of Edipresse makes Tamedia the largest media company in the Swiss daily newspaper sector and a monopolist in the market for free morning newspapers throughout the country. A good half of the paid daily newspapers in Switzerland are now owned by Tamedia as a result of the merger. In effect, the Zurich publishing house now has a monopoly on opinion, which calls into question the supposed diversity of the Swiss press and opens the floodgates to corporate journalism. However, Bakom, which has more extensive powers in this respect than Weko, remains silent.
The increased exchange of articles at the Bernese "Bund" and Zurich "Tages-Anzeiger" already shows what press diversity looks like under the guise of Tamedia: newspapers with largely identical content appear under different titles. It is therefore all the more worrying that in its decision, the Competition Commission has even refrained from imposing conditions on the media company, which will in future dominate the whole of Switzerland, that could guarantee the independence of the editorial offices concerned.
No profitability at the expense of staff
As announced, "20 Minutes", the free paper launched by the Zurich media house to fight "Le Matin Bleu", will soon swallow up its former competitor from Edipresse. Once again, numerous journalists will be put out on the street. Together with the employees of Tamedia and Edipresse, Comedia will defend itself against the redundancies expected as a result of the takeover and is calling on Tamedia to completely refrain from dismissals in future and to guarantee everyone continued employment in the national company that has now been approved.
