Free business newspaper discontinued in Germany

The German publishing group Handelsblatt is discontinuing the free business newspaper Business News. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Holtzbrinck subsidiary announced that although the paper had been successful with readers, there had been too few advertisers. Business News was first published in August 2006 and most recently had a circulation of 111,500 copies. The distribution concept consisted of placing the paper in company foyers. The free newspaper, designed in tabloid format, was distributed on weekdays. This concept did not succeed on the advertising market. In general, free newspapers have a difficult time in Germany, as the Süddeutsche Zeitung continues.
As a follow-up project, the Handelsblatt publishing group is planning a new Internet portal under the management of the previous Business News editor-in-chief Klaus Madzia. Most of the employees can be kept on.