AZ Medien Take Over TeleBärn and TeleZüri

Medienmitteilung 

Aarau and Zurich, 23 August 2011 - AZ Medien are taking over the two regional TV stations TeleBärn and TeleZüri of Tamedia. AZ Medien, who with Tele M11 already operate the second largest regional TV station in Switzerland in the Mittelland broadcasting area, are thus strengthening their position as one of the leading multimedia enterprises in Switzerland.
TeleBärn and TeleZüri are to be continued at their present locations in Berne and Zurich. Through a purposeful collaboration in technology and sales, a TV-station family is to be created out of the three stations, with a strong regional anchoring in the cantons of Aargau, Berne, Solothurn, and Zurich. AZ Medien are taking over all the employees of TeleBärn and TeleZüri as well as the employees in advertising marketing and sales who were until now active for TeleBärn and TeleZüri. A total of 150 employees (112 full-time jobs) will go over to AZ Medien.

The transfer of the license from TeleBärn, according to the Radio and TV Law, must be approved by the Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication (UVEK). The parties have chosen not to disclose the details of the sale, which is still subject to the approval of this agreement by the supervisory authorities.

The media company Tamedia has decided in April of this year, within the framework of the merger with Edipresse Suisse, to examine a sale of the two TV stations as well as its radio stations and special interest media.