Tamedia acquires an interest in the Austrian free daily Heute

Vienna and Zurich, 6 July 2016 – Tamedia is purchasing a minority interest in the Austrian free daily Heute and a majority interest in heute.at. Tamedia is the leading private media company in Switzerland. In addition to a variety of publications and successful digital companies, Tamedia is the publisher of 20 Minuten, the largest free daily newspaper in Switzerland. With its highly successful digital platform 20 Minuten (3.1 million unique users and 6.4 million unique clients per month, NET-Metrix Profiles 2015-2, NET-Metrix Audit May 2016) and the 20 Minuten app, launched in 2015, Tamedia has set new standards in the German-speaking news media.

Tonini: We believe in the future of digital journalism

In the future cooperation, Tamedia will primarily provide technical know-how and content. The digital services of heute.at are expected to be significantly expanded. With 4.1 million unique clients (ÖWA Basic April 2016), heute.at together with netdoktor.at already belongs to the online service providers with the widest reach in the country today. Dr. Eva Dichand and Wolfgang Jansky will continue to be responsible for the management of the Heute publishing house.

“Heute and heute.at are a perfect match for our free daily media in Switzerland, Luxembourg and Denmark”, says Christoph Tonini, CEO of Tamedia. “We believe in the future of digital journalism and see further potential for the services in Austria. Alongside the readers of the newspaper, especially the users of heute.at will benefit from the partnership.”

Dr. Dichand: Continue the success story of Heute

“Tamedia is an ideal partner to continue the success story of Heute“, says publisher Dr. Eva Dichand. “With this, Heute and heute.at will become a part of a far-reaching network of free daily newspapers with all the advantages of sharing content, know-how and technology.”

With an average circulation of 644,713 copies (Austrian Circulation Audit), the free newspaper Heute, established in 2004, reaches some 938,000 readers (MA 2015 Presse) a day. The newspaper is provided through approximately 3,500 distribution boxes in the provinces of Burgenland, Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Vienna.

Tamedia AG acquires 25.5 percent of the shares of Ultimate Media GmbH (AHVV Verlags GmbH), which will continue to publish the free daily Heute. The majority of the Heute publishing company will remain with the Periodika and Pluto foundations, jointly holding a total of 74.5 percent. As in the past, Dr. Eva Dichand and Wolfgang Jansky will continue to head these together. In addition, Tamedia will assume 51 percent of DJ Digitale Medien GmbH, which comprises all digital services of heute.at. Dr. Eva Dichand and Wolfgang Jansky will each hold 24.5 percent of the shares. 

The transaction is scheduled to be completed near the end of the third quarter 2016, after receiving approval from the Federal Competition Authority. The parties have agreed not to disclose any details of the transaction.