The media group CH Media announced on Tuesday the closure of its six regional advertising-financed “Today” news portals, resulting in 34 layoffs. A social plan is planned for the employees concerned.
Regional “Today” news sites have seen rising penetration rates, but they have not achieved the revenues needed in a highly competitive online market, CH Media said on Tuesday. Turnovers are falling and the group believes that these portals will not be able to cover their costs in the near future.
Due to the shutdown of the six platforms, 34 layoffs were made in the editorial offices of “Today” and in marketing, specifies CH Media. After consultation with the personnel committee, 22 employees could be offered internal solutions at CH Media. The consultation procedure is complete.
All six gates were closed Tuesday morning. Users who try to log in are sent to the online portal watson.ch, which is also owned by CH Media.
Focus on media already well established in the market
The first portal went online in 2015 in Eastern Switzerland under the name FM1Today. Portals were then launched in central Switzerland and in the regions of Aarau, Zurich, Bern and Solothurn. According to CH Media, the portals were then considered the beginning of the “trimedial era” (television, radio and internet).
According to Michael Warner, boss of CH Media, the group now wants to focus more on newspapers, television and radio stations that are already well established in the market. CH Media publishes, among others, the Aargauer Zeitung, the Luzerner Zeitung and the St. Galler Tagblatt. The group also owns several radio and television channels.
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