Tamedia increases sales and profit

The Zurich publishing house reports a very pleasing development for the first half of 2006. Sales rose by 14.2 percent to 366.5 million Swiss francs, while the operating result increased disproportionately by 21.8 percent to 75.7 million Swiss francs. Consolidated profit rose by a quarter to 52.3 million Swiss francs, as the company announced on Friday.
Job advertisements were particularly profitable and online media also continued to develop positively. Private radio stations performed below average and the electronic media presented a mixed picture.

Successful start for 20 minutes Newspaper sales rose by 13.6 percent to CHF 252 million. The operating result increased by 32.7 percent to 51.7 million. In particular, the launch of 20 minutes in French-speaking Switzerland exceeded expectations. The costs for the launch in Geneva and Lausanne were more than offset by the positive development of job advertisements, the positive development of Finanz & Wirtschaft, the magazine, SonntagsZeitung and 20 Minuten, writes the publisher.

Thanks to the growth in job advertisements, the Tages-Anzeiger was able to defend its leading position in the print advertising market.

The Magazines division also performed well, with sales up 8.3 percent to CHF 47.7 million thanks to higher sales of Annabelle and Schweizer Familie. Annabelle was able to extend its leading position in the women's magazine market despite tougher competition. Facts, which has not yet been able to benefit from rising advertising sales, remains a problem child. The operating result (EBIT) improved by 88.6 percent to CHF 4.5 million.
Below-average development in radio stations Only the electronic media division did not post a positive operating result. Despite a 7.1% increase in sales to CHF 27.3 million, operating income before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell by 90.3% to just CHF 0.3 million. Investments in online activities as well as below-average radio performance had a negative impact here. Radio 24 and Radio Basilisk generated poor figures. TeleZüri also had a negative impact. 20 Minuten Online and the job portal Jobwinner.ch performed positively.