"The federal government is back on track"
The success of the Bern Model—the collaboration between the federal government and the Berner Zeitung (BZ)—is strengthening the Espace Media Groupe. However, to remain competitive, CEO Albert P. Stäheli needs to drive growth in the Mittelland region.
The success of the Bern model, the collaboration between the Bund and the Berner Zeitung BZ, is strengthening the Espace Media Groupe. However, CEO Albert P. Stäheli needs growth in the Mittelland to survive the competition.WW The Bernese model has already received plenty of advance praise. A good four months after the launch, what is the reality? Albert P. Stäheli The hoped-for synergies have fully materialized, which makes us very optimistic. We can already say that the Confederation is back on track economically. We are pleased to have managed to get the problems that threatened the Confederation's existence under control so quickly - and in such a persistent crisis environment.
At CHF 1.5 million, you put the remaining deficit for 2004 at a surprisingly low level, after it had amounted to almost CHF 9 million in the previous year. But above all, you predict it unusually accurately. What is behind this?
The calculation is simple. The biggest chunk of the deficit, namely CHF 1.4 million, is attributable to the Anzeiger Region Bern. The newspaper Der Bund on its own would already be break-even. The issue with the Anzeiger is more stubborn, and even the cost-cutting exercises that have already been carried out are not enough. The reason is the contractually guaranteed, far too high concession fees and the contract that runs until the end of 2005. We are now examining an early adjustment of the contract. In the longer term, such a step could be advantageous for all parties.
Following the integration of the newspapers in the Bernese Oberland, cooperation with the federal government is now also well underway. This frees the hands for increased efforts in the Mittelland region. It's probably no coincidence that your struggling newspaper Solothurner Tagblatt has just announced the accelerated expansion of its market cultivation.
Strategically, our only option is to expand throughout the Espace Mittelland. We are well positioned in the west thanks to our cooperation with Bieler Tagblatt and Freiburger Nachrichten as well as successful advertising combinations. However, the Solothurn/Oberaargau region is also very important for us. Basically, we can only strengthen our attractiveness in the national advertising market by consistently developing our regional editions. This is the only way we can counter the great pressure from supra-regional competitors such as Sunday and free newspapers and online media with something competitive. We still have a lot of potential in the Solothurn/Oberaargau reader market. The BZ-Split Solothurner Tagblatt has laid a strong foundation. We will continue to build on this. But new newspapers need ten years to establish themselves in saturated markets.
The Mittelland Zeitung's contracts are up for renewal in the not too distant future. Do you expect the pressure exerted by your newspaper to have an effect on the constellations in this newspaper group?
We are very satisfied with the development of the Solothurner Tagblatt, which is constantly increasing its market share in the reader market. While the circulation of the BZ-Split is rising, that of the Solothurner Zeitung is falling. There is no denying that this will have an impact on the future situation of the Mittelland Zeitung. But the Mittelland Zeitung's contracts still run until the end of 2006. Whatever the decision is then, we will remain in this region because it is part of a coherent market area.
Interview: Daniel Schifferle
At CHF 1.5 million, you put the remaining deficit for 2004 at a surprisingly low level, after it had amounted to almost CHF 9 million in the previous year. But above all, you predict it unusually accurately. What is behind this?
The calculation is simple. The biggest chunk of the deficit, namely CHF 1.4 million, is attributable to the Anzeiger Region Bern. The newspaper Der Bund on its own would already be break-even. The issue with the Anzeiger is more stubborn, and even the cost-cutting exercises that have already been carried out are not enough. The reason is the contractually guaranteed, far too high concession fees and the contract that runs until the end of 2005. We are now examining an early adjustment of the contract. In the longer term, such a step could be advantageous for all parties.
Following the integration of the newspapers in the Bernese Oberland, cooperation with the federal government is now also well underway. This frees the hands for increased efforts in the Mittelland region. It's probably no coincidence that your struggling newspaper Solothurner Tagblatt has just announced the accelerated expansion of its market cultivation.
Strategically, our only option is to expand throughout the Espace Mittelland. We are well positioned in the west thanks to our cooperation with Bieler Tagblatt and Freiburger Nachrichten as well as successful advertising combinations. However, the Solothurn/Oberaargau region is also very important for us. Basically, we can only strengthen our attractiveness in the national advertising market by consistently developing our regional editions. This is the only way we can counter the great pressure from supra-regional competitors such as Sunday and free newspapers and online media with something competitive. We still have a lot of potential in the Solothurn/Oberaargau reader market. The BZ-Split Solothurner Tagblatt has laid a strong foundation. We will continue to build on this. But new newspapers need ten years to establish themselves in saturated markets.
The Mittelland Zeitung's contracts are up for renewal in the not too distant future. Do you expect the pressure exerted by your newspaper to have an effect on the constellations in this newspaper group?
We are very satisfied with the development of the Solothurner Tagblatt, which is constantly increasing its market share in the reader market. While the circulation of the BZ-Split is rising, that of the Solothurner Zeitung is falling. There is no denying that this will have an impact on the future situation of the Mittelland Zeitung. But the Mittelland Zeitung's contracts still run until the end of 2006. Whatever the decision is then, we will remain in this region because it is part of a coherent market area.
Interview: Daniel Schifferle
