Tamedia wants to save a total of CHF 34 million by 2016
The Zurich-based media group Tamedia apparently wants to save CHF 34 million on its newspaper titles in Switzerland. 18 million of this will go to the French-speaking Swiss newspapers Le Matin, 24 Heures and Tribune de Genève.
Their editors-in-chief now want to seek talks with the Group management. Pierre Veya, editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Le Temps, which is also a subsidiary of Tamedia, confirmed a corresponding report on Tuesday by the French-speaking Swiss radio station RTS. However, Tamedia shares more than 90 percent of the share capital with the Ringier media house. However, unlike Le Matin, 24 Heures and Tribune de Genève, Le Temps is not affected by the current cost-cutting measures, Veya told the news agency SDA. His newspaper had already introduced cost-cutting measures last fall.
However, it will not be clear until the second half of the year how much will be saved on which products. The plan is to save CHF 18 million in French-speaking Switzerland and CHF 16 million in German-speaking Switzerland. Tamedia spokesperson Christoph Zimmer confirmed a corresponding report by the French-speaking Swiss radio station RTS on Tuesday.
CHF 6 million of the total CHF 34 million are to be saved in 2014, a further CHF 14 million in 2015 and the remaining CHF 14 million by the end of 2016. However, Zimmer emphasized that these figures are only theoretical assumptions. Tamedia will decide on the specific measures in the coming weeks and months. Zimmer was unable to say to what extent staff will be affected. Tamedia employees have already been informed of the savings program by e-mail.
Profit down by 15 percent
The plans were triggered by falling sales of magazines and newspapers. In order to be able to continue to invest in new business areas and remain capable of acting, costs must therefore be reduced, said Zimmer. However, Tamedia will not only be making cutbacks in newspapers and magazines over the next two years. Savings are to be made "wherever there is something to be corrected", i.e. also in the online portals, in printing and in the service area.
The 34 million francs that are to be saved correspond to 3.5 percent of Tamedia's total turnover. Five days ago, the company announced an annual profit of CHF 152 million. However, the Group management was not satisfied with the result because it was 15 percent worse than in the previous year.
Journalists' association Impressum dismayed by Tamedia's cost-cutting plans
The journalists' association Impressum is dismayed by the media group Tamedia's plans to cut back on its operations in French-speaking Switzerland. The diversity of the press and the quality of reporting would be jeopardized as a result, the association writes in a statement.
The announced cost-cutting measures at Le Matin, 24 heures and Tribune de Genève amounting to CHF 18 million would inevitably lead to redundancies. It is also very likely that the various newspaper titles will be merged. As quality information is important for society and cannot be compared with any other consumer product, Impressum appeals to the social responsibility of the Zurich media group.
Tamedia is a very healthy group, explains the journalists' association. It is true that profits fell by 15 percent in 2012 compared to 2011. But firstly, 2011 was the best result in the Group's history, and secondly, a profit of CHF 152 million was achieved in 2012. (SDA)
