Press policy cutbacks and clear-cutting
The Tamedia/Espace Media Group is coming under fire. Just a few weeks after the Zurich-based Tamedia took over the Bern-based Espace Media Group, the first effects of the merger are being felt on the Swiss press market. The publisher Vogt-Schild Medien points to price dumping in the canton of Solothurn.
The Tamedia/Espace Media Group is coming under fire. Just a few weeks after the Zurich-based Tamedia took over the Bern-based Espace Media Group, the first effects of the merger are being felt on the Swiss press market. The publisher Vogt-Schild Medien points to price dumping in the canton of Solothurn. The publishers of Vogt-Schild Medien are outraged. In their statement, they draw attention to the fact that parts of the canton have been covered by an advertising mail offering a combined subscription to the Solothurner Tagblatt (Espace Media Group) and Sonntagszeitung (Tamedia) for 100 francs a year. However, both subscriptions together cost CHF 501 according to the original subscription prices!
According to Vogt-Schild Medien, the Solothurner Tagblatt has been languishing unsuccessfully since it was launched by Espace Media Groupe almost six years ago. The special offer shows that trust in the editorial performance of this newspaper has obviously been thoroughly destroyed. Now the money cannon is being used: The CHF 100 for the combined subscription is not even enough for the paper of the two newspapers, let alone for the additional expense of Sunday distribution, Vogt-Schild Medien railed in its statement, which reached the media on Thursday. In other words, Bern and Zurich are accepting an additional loss with every such subscription just to take subscribers away from the Solothurner Zeitung and the Grenchner Tagblatt. This is typical of Martin Kall: where the spirit doesn't work, try money! And this despite the negative experience with Facts, where huge sums were invested in marketing, but where he was never able to create a successful product.
The fact that the Weko has not yet given the green light to the merger of Tamedia and Espace Media Groupe is a reason for hope for Vogt-Schild Medien. The publishing house sees this as an opportunity to stop the impending incorporation of the Berner Bund into the Tamedia/Espace Media Group giant, in order to put a stop to the "press-political call and clear-cutting".
According to Vogt-Schild Medien, the Solothurner Tagblatt has been languishing unsuccessfully since it was launched by Espace Media Groupe almost six years ago. The special offer shows that trust in the editorial performance of this newspaper has obviously been thoroughly destroyed. Now the money cannon is being used: The CHF 100 for the combined subscription is not even enough for the paper of the two newspapers, let alone for the additional expense of Sunday distribution, Vogt-Schild Medien railed in its statement, which reached the media on Thursday. In other words, Bern and Zurich are accepting an additional loss with every such subscription just to take subscribers away from the Solothurner Zeitung and the Grenchner Tagblatt. This is typical of Martin Kall: where the spirit doesn't work, try money! And this despite the negative experience with Facts, where huge sums were invested in marketing, but where he was never able to create a successful product.
The fact that the Weko has not yet given the green light to the merger of Tamedia and Espace Media Groupe is a reason for hope for Vogt-Schild Medien. The publishing house sees this as an opportunity to stop the impending incorporation of the Berner Bund into the Tamedia/Espace Media Group giant, in order to put a stop to the "press-political call and clear-cutting".
