Commuter newspapers in French-speaking Switzerland to be merged
Following the Competition Commission’s decision to approve the merger of Edipresse’s Swiss operations with Tamedia, the two media companies are merging their commuter newspapers in French-speaking Switzerland. The final issue of Le Matin Bleu in its current format will be published on Friday, September 25, 2009. Ten people will be laid off.
Following the decision by the Competition Commission to approve the merger of Edipresse's Swiss activities with Tamedia, the two media houses are merging their commuter newspapers in French-speaking Switzerland. The last edition of Le Matin Bleu in its current form will be published on Friday, September 25, 2009, according to a press release issued on Friday. The combined editorial team will then develop a new concept that combines the best elements of 20 minutes and Le Matin Bleu. The first issue of the joint commuter newspaper with the name 20 minutes will be published in November. The continuation of the name 20 minutes ensures the advertising combination with 20 Minuten in German-speaking Switzerland. At the same time as the launch of the new commuter newspaper, the design of 20 minutes in German-speaking Switzerland and 20 minutes in French-speaking Switzerland will be revised and expanded to include elements of the Le Matin Bleu design. From the beginning of 2010, 20 minutes will be published as Le Matin Bleu with the two regional editions Genève and Vaud. The circulation will be 210,000 copies. Printing will now take place at the Centre d'Impression Edi¬presse in Bussigny.
Serge Reymond, CEO of Edipresse Switzerland, will become Chairman of the Board of Directors of 20 Minutes Romandie S.A., in which Tamedia and PPSR will each hold a 50 percent stake. Joseph Crisci, previously Managing Director of 20 minutes, will take over as Managing Director. Tristan Cerf, previously Editor-in-Chief of Le Matin Bleu, will become Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper. Philippe Favre, previously editor-in-chief of 20 minutes, will take over as head of the online editorial team. According to the press release, the number of redundancies can be reduced to ten employees due to natural staff changes that have already taken place.
Consolidation of online platforms
In addition to the two commuter newspapers, the online classifieds markets will also be merged. Jobup Sarl and the holdings in the real estate platform Homegate.ch and the dating platform Swissfriends.ch will be merged into a joint classifieds organization as of 1 January 2010. The merger of the online job platforms Alpha.ch, Jobwinner.ch (Tamedia) and Jobup.ch (Edipresse) is intended to create a strong national job network for Switzerland. Jobup.ch is to be gradually developed into a national brand. Urs Hügli, previously CEO of Homegate, will take over the overall management of the new classifieds organization. Christoph Tonini, Head of Media Switzerland at Tamedia, will become Chairman of the Board of Directors of the online classifieds organization, in which Tamedia and PPSR will each hold a 50 percent stake.
Serge Reymond, CEO of Edipresse Switzerland, will become Chairman of the Board of Directors of 20 Minutes Romandie S.A., in which Tamedia and PPSR will each hold a 50 percent stake. Joseph Crisci, previously Managing Director of 20 minutes, will take over as Managing Director. Tristan Cerf, previously Editor-in-Chief of Le Matin Bleu, will become Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper. Philippe Favre, previously editor-in-chief of 20 minutes, will take over as head of the online editorial team. According to the press release, the number of redundancies can be reduced to ten employees due to natural staff changes that have already taken place.
Consolidation of online platforms
In addition to the two commuter newspapers, the online classifieds markets will also be merged. Jobup Sarl and the holdings in the real estate platform Homegate.ch and the dating platform Swissfriends.ch will be merged into a joint classifieds organization as of 1 January 2010. The merger of the online job platforms Alpha.ch, Jobwinner.ch (Tamedia) and Jobup.ch (Edipresse) is intended to create a strong national job network for Switzerland. Jobup.ch is to be gradually developed into a national brand. Urs Hügli, previously CEO of Homegate, will take over the overall management of the new classifieds organization. Christoph Tonini, Head of Media Switzerland at Tamedia, will become Chairman of the Board of Directors of the online classifieds organization, in which Tamedia and PPSR will each hold a 50 percent stake.
