Media Diversity Holding: All or Nothing
According to Schweiz am Sonntag, Publigroupe has offered to sell its 25 percent stake in the St. Galler Tagblatt and the Neue Luzern Zeitung to Medienvielfalt-Holding. However, Blocher and Tettamanti showed little interest.
Schweiz am Sonntag relies on the independent statements of two "reliable sources". St. Galler Tagblatt and Neue Luzerner Zeitung belong to Freie Presse Holding, which in turn is controlled by the NZZ Group (75 percent) and Publigroupe (25 percent). Publigroupe wants to get rid of the shares and is said to be hoping for 50 million francs from the sale. According to the sources, Publigroupe actively approached Blocher's Medienvielfalt Holding through an intermediary and "under the utmost secrecy". Direct contact was deliberately avoided. It had been assumed that Blocher would pay "a proud sum" for influence in rural, middle-class areas.
Contrary to these assumptions, however, interest failed to materialize, because even with a 25 percent stake, the NZZ Group would still call the shots. If the opportunity arose to acquire the major share of the cake, Blocher and Tettamanti would probably not be asked twice. NZZ communications chief Bettina Schibli, however, denied to Schweiz am Sonntag a suggestion voiced by Schweizer Journalist magazine that a medium-term purchase was a realistic scenario. NZZ is aware of Publigroupe's intentions to sell, she said. Industry insiders assume that the NZZ Group will acquire the remaining 25 percent with a right of first refusal. (SaS/hae)
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