1833
Start of the liaison between Ringier and the printing business
In 1833 pastor’s son Johann Rudolf Ringier bought a print shop in Zofingen. For the next 40 years, he primarily printed local gazettes, school syllabuses and speeches for public executions. Early publications included the Zofinger Wochenblatt, which was declared the city’s official gazette.
1874
From the hand press to the rapid press
After the death of Johann Rudolf Ringier in 1874, his son Franz Emil took over control of the company. He invested the sum of 6,000 francs in a second-hand Johannisberg printing press – an absolute fortune at the time! The investment paid off: the company was soon printing commercial documents and musical scores.
In 1885 Ringier gave up publication of the Zofinger Wochenblatt – in contrast to the competition, he was late to recognise the shift in readers’ tastes from advertising to news.
1898
A youngster assumes the mantle of leadership
Full of optimism and drive, the 22-year-old Paul August Ringier took over the print shop, after the sudden death of his father, Franz Emil, from a heart attack. The print shop that his father left behind was technically strong, but weak as a publisher. Ringier began to work with August Francke, the largest competitor in the region.
Two years later, Ringier had become influential across Switzerland
Clever transactions and risk-taking investments made Paul August Ringier a partner of the Schweizerische Allgemeine Volks-Zeitung in 1900. Its trademark was its light pink paper – a stroke of marketing genius: the newspaper was unmistakable.
1902
New location in Zofingen
In 1902, Ringier merged with the allied print shop, founded a new joint-stock company and moved to a new location in Zofingen. Just five years later, Paul August Ringier took over the entire printing operation, including the newspaper and considerably increasing its size.
1911
Schweizer Illustrierte was first published in 1911
With lots of pictures and high production values, the newspaper presented a mix of current event reportage and Swiss folklore and history that proved very popular with the public. The timing could not have been better. At the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, many German-speaking Swiss wanted nothing to do with the German illustrated magazines. Within a year, Schweizer Illustrierte’s readership had doubled to 43,000. At the same time, the company acquired the first rotogravure machine in Switzerland. It was a ground-breaking technical innovation for the industry, as it could print text and images in a single operation – and it was developed largely by Paul Ringier himself.
1921
Entertainment for the masses
Ten years after the first issue of Schweizer Illustrierte, Ringier published its French-language counterpart L’illustré. This marked the beginning of Ringier’s activities in western Switzerland. A year later, in 1922, Ringiers Unterhaltungsblätter (RUB) made its first appearance. Also referred to as the ‘yellow booklet’ due to its colour, the publication offered the public short, strictly apolitical current events spiced up with short stories and novellas. For decades, RUB remained one of the largest and most stable publishing and financial successes for Ringier.
1950
The first journalistic guidelines at Ringier appeared in 1950
They were a type of code of professional ethics, of which parts are still found in the Ringier Code of Conduct today. The guidelines were written by the then editor-in-chief of Schweizer Illustrierte, Werner Meier.
1959
The arrival of an entertaining provocateur
Following the maxim that ‘you can do anything but be boring’, Blick made its first appearance in 1959. As the first tabloid in Switzerland, it told stories in a completely different way to any other Swiss newspaper at the time. The new newspaper brought in numerous innovations, with a telephone advice hotline called ‘der heisse Draht’ and a new, American-style editorial concept. The tabloid was produced in a newsroom system based in two three-room apartments on the edge of the Zurich banking district.
Due to a shortage of space, the photo lab was located in the bathroom.The première of Blick caused a stir: a mix of attention, approval and aggression swept the country. To parliamentary questions the Federal Council replied that, unfortunately, it could do nothing about this new type of newspaper – meanwhile, it secretly withdrew its large print orders for phone books from Ringier. The publishers’ association demanded that SBB prohibit the sale of Blick at railway station newsagents. But the people voiced their opinion at the newsagents themselves: just two years later Blick had a circulation of 97,727 and was the second largest newspaper in Switzerland.
1960
Hans Ringier became CEO in 1960
His father Paul August Ringier died at the age of 84. He had run the media company in a gruff, patriarchal manner – but very successfully. Over his 50 years as CEO, he had turned the regional printing company into a national media corporation. His son Hans took over the company and its now 2,000 employees.
1963
Blick kills the Pope
- on paper: To make sure that the death of the dying Pope XXIII is announced in time, the editorial team produces two print versions. But half of the newspapers are accidentally printed with the Pope's death announcement – even though he lives one day longer. A mishap that goes down in history.
1967
Ringier joined the video business in 1967
The small in-house film production facility known as Rincovision supplied the media company with film material and took on outside orders as well.
1969
SonntagsBlick was published for the first time in 1969,
becoming the first Sunday newspaper in Switzerland. Blick showed readers the hardships and cruelty in the world during the week; while readers of SonntagsBlick were treated to the amusing and enjoyable side of life.
1973
Ringier’s new partner
In 1973, the group acquired the Lucerne-based publishing house C.J. Bucher AG, which included the Luzerner Neuste Nachrichten (LNN) newspaper; some 20 years later it became the Neue Luzerner Zeitung. In addition to technical achievements, important personnel changes also took place: Hans Ringier parted ways with Heinrich Brunner and named Dr. Heinrich Oswald as a delegate to the Board of Directors and president of the Ringier Group.
Frank A. Meyer joined Schweizer Illustrierte as a parliamentary correspondent. Over the years, he came to be one of the most important journalists in the company and is still active as a consultant to the executive management and as the president of the Foundation Council.
1974
The first Swiss school of journalism opened its doors in 1974
Villa Römerhalde in Zofingen, once the residence of Paul Ringier, was converted into a schoolhouse. With the school, colloquially known as the Jouschu, Ringier wanted to make a contribution to the quality of journalism and offered a small, select group of students a mix of classroom learning and practical journalistic work in the editorial office. Even today, the Ringier School of Journalism remains the only private institution for journalist training and was attended by major media figures, such as Michael Ringier, Marc Walder and many more.
1977
Renaming and relocation on the agenda
In 1977, the former Schweizerische Allgemeine Volks-Zeitung (SAVZ) received a new name and a new structure. The oldest title in the Ringier line-up now shifted its focus to celebrities, entertainment and advice. At the same time, Ringier opened a modern printing center for offset newspaper production in Adligenswil – Blick was finally printed on its own machines. A year later, the newly built Pressehaus at Dufourstrasse 23, Zurich, was opened. The Pressehaus was located at the heart of the publishing and communications sector in the center of an increasingly dynamic Zurich.
1982
The beginnings of cross-media entertainment
In 1982, Ringier acquired a majority interest in the Good News concert agency. Activities beyond the borders of the publishing industry were a great success. Good News quickly developed into the leading provider in the burgeoning concert and festival business. Nevertheless, group president Dr. Heinrich Oswald stepped down due to old age in 1983 and was succeeded by Dr. Peter Schneeberger.
1984
In 1984 Ringier was operating one of the most successful video production companies in Switzerland
The new TV programme management company Zürivision was formed in collaboration with the in-house film production company Rincovision, and later operated under the name Ringier TV.
1985
A New Generation
Hans Ringier hands over management responsibility to his sons Christoph (Chairman of the Board of Directors) and Michael (Chief Executive Officer), Dr. Peter Schneeberger steps down.
1986
Revolution in image processing
Electronic image processing in Adligenswil goes into operation. A technical sensation: complete newspaper pages are transmitted via satellite for the first time in Switzerland.
1987
Initial steps towards Asia
A new print shop in Hong Kong, Times-Ringier (HK) Ltd., was formed in cooperation with Times Publishing Co. of Singapore. The company quickly advanced to become one of the major players in magazine printing. Ringier sold the company 24 years later to Hong Kong Economic Times Holding Ltd.
1989
A new magazine revolutionised business media in 1989
Michael Ringier became chairman of the Board of Directors, thus assuming ultimate responsibility for the company. After a year on the group executive board, his brother Christoph Ringier resigned from the company. In Switzerland, Ringier worked with Swiss television and until 2012 produced the programmes Cash-TV, Spotlights, MotorShow and Gesundheit Sprechstunde under the Presse-TV label.
Cash proved to be a surprise hit: the newspaper combined business and finance reporting with stories about the personalities involved. After a year, Ringier launched the newspaper abroad. While the most modern newspaper print plant in Europe was being inaugurated for Ringier in Adligenswil, the same publishing house was producing the first publication of the Czech version of Cash, called Profit, in the Czech Republic. This was to be just the beginning of a major phase of expansion into central and Eastern Europe.
1991
A new newspaper in Lausanne
In 1991, three heavyweights of the Swiss press, Edipresse (at the time the publisher of almost all press publications in western Switzerland, including 24 heures, Le Matin and Tribune de Genève), Ringier and Publicitas joined forces to bring out the quality newspaper Le Nouveau Quotidien in Lausanne. The editor-in-chief was Jacques Pilet.
1995
In 1995 Ringier joined the chefs
The cult cooking brand Betty Bossi was acquired by the publishing house and successfully marketed in China – as it still is today – under the name Betty’s Kitchen. The Swiss brand was sold to Coop in 2012.
1996
The first websites went online in 1996
With Blick online and Cash online, Ringier made its first forays on to the internet.
At the same time, the first company website went live. Fresh life was also breathed into the Schweizerischen Mediendatenbank (Swiss media database), which was expanded in cooperation with Tamedia and SRG.
Meanwhile, Michael Ringier introduced a new group structure and took over as the group head of operations and later journalism, as well as becoming a delegate to the Board of Directors. A year later, Ringier Print Adligenswil and Zofingen were spun off as independent companies.
1998
Founding of Le Temps
The publishers of the financially stricken Journal de Genève and the similarly financially troubled Le Nouveau Quotidien entered into negotiations and agreed to merge the two papers to form a new newspaper called Le Temps. ER Publishing held 89.4% of the new company; ER in turn was owned jointly by Edipresse and Ringier, which both had a 50% share. Geneva-based banker Claude Demole, a major player in the publishing sector, held 6.1%; Société des Rédacteurs et du Personnel du Monde 2.4% and the Société éditrice du Monde 21%. Demole later sold 3.1 % to ER Publishing.
2000
In 2000, Hungary joined the Ringier ranks
Ringier acquired the Hungarian publishing house Magyar Hirlap Rt. from Marquard Media, becoming publisher of the second-largest Hungarian tabloid and the broadsheet Magyar Hirlap, as well as the proud owner of a print shop.
2003
In 2003, Hans Ringier died aged 97
His son, Michael Ringier, succeeded him as chairman of the Board of Directors of Ringier Holding AG; Martin Werfeli took over as CEO of the Ringier Group. The women’s magazines Bolero and Edelweiss also joined the company’s portfolio.
2004
Swissprinters made its début in 2004
The group of companies comprised all non-newspaper printing operations of the two partners of NZZ Group, Edipresse and Ringier. In Germany, meanwhile, Ringier launched Cicero, a glossy magazine for political culture. The German art magazine Monopol was later added to the ranks. In Eastern Europe, the group continued to expand in Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic with the acquisition of publishing house interests held by Gruner+Jahr. In Serbia, the Serbian version of Blick was launched under the name Blic, followed a year later by the free daily 24sata.
2007
Ringier expanded its entertainment sector
and acquired 51% of Radio Energy in Zurich and Radio BE1 in Bern. Three years later, on the same frequency, BE1 became Radio Energy Bern, and in 2012 Ringier and the NRJ Group Paris jointly acquired an interest in Radio Basel. Energy Basel was launched on 13 January. In February 2007, Ringier acquired 49.9% of Scout24 Schweiz AG, a Swiss network of online marketplaces that had emerged from Xmedia AG, founded by Daniel Grossen in 1996. In 2004, the interest in Scout24 held by Beisheim Holding was acquired by Deutsche Telekom Group. In early 2007, Daniel Grossen resigned as CEO and was succeeded by the previous commercial director, Olivier Rihs. Scout24 Schweiz Holding has been headquartered in Flamatt (FR) since 1998. In Eastern Europe, the Czech Republic and Serbia continued to expand their publishing activities with the launch of the dailies Aha! and ALO!
2008
Free newspaper in celebration of the anniversary
Ringier marked its 175th year in business with celebrations in every country, including an exhibition and two major events in Switzerland – a party for employees and one for guests – at the KKL in Lucerne. On 1 June, the free commuter newspaper Blick am Abend was launched – the first and only evening newspaper in Switzerland. In November 2008, Ringier acquired the commercial online platform Geschenkidee.ch, which had been founded in 2002. In Vietnam, Ringier added the Nhat Viet Group to its portfolio; the portal brings together all the online activities of the country. CEO Martin Werfeli proudly reported that 8.5% of sales were generated through electronic media. The target: to raise that figure to 10% by the end of 2010.
2010
In 2010, Switzerland received its first newsroom
The editorial offices of Blick, SonntagsBlick, Blick am Abend and Blick.ch, together with Web-TV, were now combined in the largest and most modern newsroom in the country. Together with Axel Springer, Ringier formed the major joint venture Ringier Axel Springer Media AG and consolidated business activities in the Czech Republic, Serbia, Poland and Slovakia under its umbrella. Meanwhile in Vietnam, Ringier launched the new international version ELLE Vietnam jointly with the French media company Lagardère Active.
2011
In 2011, Ringier rediscovered the countryside, expanded and grew
LandLiebe magazine was launched in 2011. The quarterly magazine was created to focus on the fascination and longing of a globalised society for the more down-to-earth and romantic lifestyle of the countryside. As the appeal of the concept began to grow, LandLiebe TV and LandLiebe Radio were added to the mix. Never before had a paid magazine achieved such success in Switzerland in such a short period of time. Based on the newsroom of the Blick Group in Zurich, newsrooms were introduced in Belgrade, Bucharest and Prague as well.
On 12 April, Ringier launched the collection, the world’s first single-themed tablet magazine. Subject of the first issue: ‘Prince William – the great hope of the British monarchy’. In the Digital area, Ringier acquired interests in the group-buying platform DeinDeal.ch. In the Entertainment sector, Ringier joined forces with the world’s largest sports marketing firm Infront Sports & Media AG under the name InfrontRingier – Sports & Entertainment Switzerland AG. In Romania, Ringier acquired Edipresse A.S. Romania, a joint venture between the Swiss publishing group Edipresse and the German media corporation Axel Springer.
2012
The ascent of Marc Walder
Marc Walder, previously CEO of Ringier Schweiz, succeeded Christian Unger to the post of CEO of Ringier AG on 5 April. Walder pushed the diversification of the company and accelerated the move towards digitalisation. Ringier’s digital activities were consolidated in the newly established unit Ringier Digital. The new unit included Scout24 Schweiz, Anibis, gate24 and baugate24, the IT service providers Xmedia and Geomatic, the e-commerce platforms Geschenkidee.ch and DeinDeal.ch, the IT service providers Previon and Ringier Studios, and Ringier’s recently launched activities in Africa.
Publishing continued to expand as well: the Blick group expanded its geographical reach with Blick am Abend, enlarging its distribution area by 12 cities, and Blick.ch becoming the first news portal in Switzerland to crack the 500 million-click threshold. In September, Ringier and Tamedia announced their joint acquisition of jobs.ch Holding AG, a Swiss online job platform that had since passed into the ownership of a US holding company. In November, the Competition Commission approved the deal – it was the largest internet deal to date in Switzerland. Qualipet Digital and Omnimedia were also added to the Ringier portfolio. In 2015, the two companies were sold for strategic reasons. Following approval by anti-trust authorities, in November Ringier Axel Springer Media AG acquired a 75% stake in the Polish online portal Onet.pl. The previous sole owner, TVN S.A., one of the largest TV broadcasters in Poland, retained a 25% stake. The acquisition of the largest Romanian online job portal eJobs.ro completed the year of major acquisitions.
Ringier had by this time invested CHF 1.4 billion in the transformation of its business and generated some 25% of total group earnings through digital products.
2013
The year digitalisation came of age
In 2013, Ringier employed 7,400 people in 14 countries, including four African countries. Sales reached about CHF 1 billion. The strategy of tapping new sources of revenue through diversification into the areas of digital business and entertainment began to bear fruit. In the Czech Republic, the activities of Ringier Axel Springer Media AG were sold, while in Nigeria the classified site ady.ng was launched. Ringier sold its stake in the AIO Group to the majority shareholder Deutsche Entertainment AG, thus relinquishing its interest in Good News, but retaining the successful Moon & Stars festival in Locarno. Blick am Abend celebrated its fifth anniversary with a special gift: blickamabend.ch went live at the end of 2013. A month later, blick.ch opened a branch office in Los Angeles to keep its online portals up-to-date 24 hours a day.
Toward the end of the year, Ringier was able to acquire the remaining shares in Scout24 that still belonged to Deutsche Telekom – an important step for the company. The transaction was concluded in January 2014.
2014
Majority stake in Le Temps acquired by Ringier
On 11 April, Ringier announced the acquisition of Tamedia’s 50% of the jointly held ER Publishing AG, which in turn held 92.5% of the Geneva broadsheet Le Temps. Le Temps thus became a part of the Ringier portfolio. In early 2014, Ringier acquired a majority interest in Expat-Dakar.com, Senegal’s biggest classified marketplace. The same year, Ringier launched the sports platform allsports.com.gh in Ghana and acquired 51% of the leading classified ads portal in Tanzania, ZoomTanzania.com. At the end of the year, Ghana successfully adopted the news concept from Nigeria’s pulse.ng with pulse.com.gh. Ringier was now active in five African countries. Six of the platforms have meanwhile become the market leaders in their respective countries. After the successful sale of their activities in the Czech Republic, the portfolios of Ringier and Axel Springer in Hungary were brought into the joint venture in October. In Eastern Europe, only the activities in Romania were still not part of the joint venture. In July 2014, a partner from the US joined forces with Ringier: KKR, a global investment firm, planned a long-term collaboration with Ringier in the classifieds and marketing fields. KKR acquired 49% stakes in each of the Ringier Digital AG subsidiaries – Scout24 Schweiz AG and Omnimedia AG. In December, Ringier announced that a joint venture with Axel Springer Schweiz was in the works: the Ringier Axel Springer Medien Schweiz, a merger of the respective magazine portfolios.
2015
New structures and companies
Ringier Digital AG reorganises its marketing activities: after the national marketing business Omnimedia AG, which for years had been operated exclusively for Scout24 Schweiz, was fully integrated into Scout24 Schweiz AG at the beginning of the year, Cleoo Limited Corp acquired the remaining SME marketing business from Omnimedia as of 1 July 2015. In the digital area, the group founded Ringier Digital Ventures, a company dedicated to seeking out and supporting innovative digital start-ups. The online real estate platform MyProperty.ph in the Philippines was sold for strategic reasons. In China, Ringier sold its trade magazines to long-time partner Mike Hay.
2016
Admeira – a new perspective for Switzerland
On 4 April 2016, the joint marketing organisation from Ringier, Swisscom and SRG began operations under the name Admeira. The project was first launched on 17 August 2015, and Marc Walder was among its initiators. The venture’s objective of keeping more digital advertising funds in Switzerland was met with criticism from competitors, which led to Ringier's immediate withdrawal from the Swiss Media Association on 20 August 2015, just three days after the launch was announced.
Mobiliar purchases shares in Scout24 Schweiz AG from KKR
Mobiliar, the oldest private insurance company in Switzerland, purchased 50% of the shares in Scout24 Schweiz AG from KKR and other investors in spring 2016. Scout24 is the leading network of online marketplaces for vehicles, property and classified ads. KKR, one of the world's leading investors, acquired a stake in Scout24 Schweiz AG in August 2014. The successful partnership has led to significantly accelerated growth, greatly exceeding stakeholders' expectations. Ringier will continue to consolidate and control the company.
Ringier Africa and One Africa Media found African classifieds joint venture
Ringier Africa and One Africa Media (OAM) merged their online marketplaces to create and expand the largest classifieds group in Africa. The joint venture, known as Ringier One Africa Media (ROAM), constitutes Africa's leading classified ads portal.
Management buy-out of Cicero and Monopol in Germany
The two premium titles Cicero and Monopol have changed hands: Cicero editor-in-chief Christoph Schwennicke and deputy editor-in-chief Alexander Marguier took over the two high-end products on 1 May 2016 as part of a management buy-out.
Launch of new joint venture Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz AG
Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz AG, the Swiss joint venture with Axel Springer, began operations on 1 January 2016. The new media company's remit includes both companies' entire magazine portfolios in Switzerland as well as the Le Temps and Handelszeitung newspapers. Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz produces 500 print editions each year across approximately 30 different products. It employs 600 staff and has its head office in Zurich.
2017
Ringier launches its social media magazine, izzy
Izzy is Ringier's new media brand in Switzerland. It contains a mixture of intelligent entertainment and topical social issues for a young, urban audience that primarily consumes content directly through social media.
Ringier repositions its printing business
In response to the changing Swiss print market environment, Ringier repositioned its printing business. All printing activities now take place at Swissprinters AG in Zofingen. Newspaper printing at the Adligenswil site ceased at the end of 2018.
Ringier redesigns its Asian portfolio
In November 2017, Ringier China Co. Ltd., the Chinese subsidiary of Ringier AG, sold its publishing programme to Ocean Strategies Advertising Ltd. Following many successful years on the Chinese market, Ringier decided to focus increasingly on Vietnam and Myanmar in order to expand its business and portfolio in both areas.
Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz moves to Zurich West
In April, the Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz team moved to its new offices at the Medienpark in Zurich-Altstetten.
2018
Blick.ch relaunches its online presence
Following a two-week open beta phase, the new Blick.ch platform went live, featuring brand new technology, a tidier layout and shorter loading times. The relaunch laid the foundation for exciting new formats and expansions of Blick.ch.
Ringier AG wins at the 2018 Global BIGGIES Awards
In March 2018, Ringier received the Best of Show BIGGIES-Award in New York for its project ‘Using advanced Artificial Intelligence to generate reader revenue and boost user engagement’.
Ringier AG acquires MyJobs.com.mm
Together with its local partner Matrix Co. Ltd., Ringier AG acquired the online job platform MyJobs.com.mm. The acquisition strengthened Ringier's digital marketplace strategy as an important strategic pillar of the Group and reinforced its intention of assuming market leadership in Myanmar’s digital business.
Bilanz turns 40
The leading Swiss business magazine Bilanz celebrated its 40th anniversary in February 2018.
RINGIER SPORTAL S.R.L. acquires the Romanian sports magazine Gazeta Sporturilor
The joint venture between Ringier Romania and the Bulgarian sports media group RINGIER SPORTAL S.R.L. acquired the Romanian sports magazine Gazeta Sporturilor. The contract includes both the digital platform GSP.ro and the print version of Gazeta. This transaction made Ringier Romania the uncontested market leader in digital media in Romania.
Ringier AG lays foundations for the future
At the 2018 management conference, Ringier AG announced the sale of 10 per cent of its company shares to Marc Walder, CEO of Ringier AG. As part of generation planning, it was also announced that Robin Lingg would lead the sixth generation of family shareholders in the medium term.
2019
Ringier Sports AG
The Swiss sports marketing company Ringier Sports AG is launched.
Swiss digital alliance
Switzerland's four major private media companies - CH Media, NZZ, Ringier and Tamedia - and SRG have been working together since the end of 2018 to improve the conditions for their personal user relationship. Today, they are launching their joint "Mach’s persönlich" (Make it personal) campaign to motivate their users to register on a voluntary basis.
EqualVoice
At the end of 2019, we launched the EqualVoice initiative, which aims to make women more visible in media reporting. The core of the initiative is the measurement of the gender share in the contributions of our media brands using the EqualVoice factor based on a semantic algorithm.
"Struggling for Ringier. On the art of digitisation in a Swiss media group"
The book by the Swiss journalist, author and publicist René Lüchinger traces the transformation of Ringier for the first time across 320 pages. Ringen um Ringier, published by Steidl, is illustrated with artworks from the Ringier collection.
Blick and SonntagsBlick enter their anniversary year
60 years ago, the first issue of Blick was published. The first issue of SonntagsBlick followed a decade later, 50 years ago. The Blick Group celebrated both anniversaries with its readers through various campaigns and interesting reviews of the company’s history.
Ringier Axel Springer organises the Press Freedom Conference in Bratislava
On 5 March 2019, Ringier Axel Springer, the European Magazine Media Association (EMMA) and the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association (ENPA) jointly hosted the Press Freedom Conference in Bratislava. It took place one year after the murders of the journalists Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová.
2020
Effects of the coronavirus pandemic
The effects of the coronavirus pandemic were also felt by Ringier. CEO Marc Walder writes in the annual report: "2020 was probably the most difficult year for Ringier that I can remember." It was thanks to the enormous commitment and great loyalty of the employees that the economic damage was limited. An exhausting year in which Ringier achieved a great deal despite the circumstances and thus achieved a solid business result for 2020.
izzy is back as @izzyprojects
There has been much speculation about the possible return of former protagonists Silvia Princigalli and Cedric Schild, but now it's clear: they're back and relaunching as @izzyprojects.
Sale Le Temps
Aventinus Foundation of French-speaking Switzerland takes over Le Temps SA from Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz AG.
Blick expands into French-speaking Switzerland
Blick is expanding into French-speaking Switzerland and launching the French-speaking equivalent of Blick.ch next year. Michel Jeanneret, currently editor-in-chief of L'illustré, will be responsible for the newly formed French-language editorial team.
Change in Ringier Group Executive Board
In line with long-standing plans, Robin Lingg will leave the Group Executive Board of Ringier AG on 31 January 2021. He will be replaced as Head Global Marketplaces by Axel Konjack on 1 February 2021, a new appointment to the Group Executive Board.
Ringier One Africa Media (ROAM)
Jobberman Nigeria acquires Ngcareers.com, one of Nigeria's leading job, recruitment and career portals.
Diversity & Inclusion Board
Convinced that "Diversity & Inclusion" are key values and success factors for a company, Ringier is taking the topic a step further and will be setting up a Diversity & Inclusion Board from August 2020. Three out of six members of the Group Executive Board will sit on it.
Ringier Romania acquires remaining shares of Imobiliare.ro and appoints Dan Puica as new CEO
Four years after the majority acquisition of Imobiliare.ro, Ringier Romania has acquired the remaining shares from the three founders Adrian Erimescu, Ciprian Gheran and Radu Andrei. This transaction makes Ringier Romania the sole owner of the leading real estate portal in the country with more than 120.000 property listings and 1.7 million unique visitors per month.
Obituary Annette Ringier
Annette Ringier has died after a short illness at the age of 76. Annette Ringier was the owner of Ringier AG together with her brother Michael Ringier, her sister Evelyn Lingg-Ringier and Marc Walder.
Ringier Sports AG
Ringier Sports AG acquired sportal media GmbH on October 1, 2020, thereby substantially strengthening its Digital Unit.
Blick TV goes live
On Monday, February 17, the Blick Group will launch Switzerland's first digital channel. Blick TV will run daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Blick.ch and in the Blick app. The focus is on breaking news, sport and entertainment.
Ringier and la Mobilière strengthening their partnership
Ringier has granted la Mobilière a 25 percent shareholding and the two Swiss companies have agreed to cooperate in the long term.
Ringier AG assumes full ownership of Admeira
Ringier is acquiring Swisscom’s 50% share in Admeira, making it the sole owner of the marketing company. At the same time, Admeira is being restructured and will focus on the marketing of TV advertising in future. SRG SSR remains the most important long-term inventory provider. Frank Zelger will be the new CEO of Admeira.
2021
Blick.ch/fr
On June 1, 2021, the Blick Group launched its new online service in French-speaking Switzerland. Blick.ch/fr provides French-speaking users with true-to-life journalism from the region, enriched with articles on current events from German-speaking Switzerland. Blick.ch/fr relies on the same type of articles that are appreciated by more than one million users every day on Blick.ch.
Ringier sells geschenkidee.ch to a Swiss investor group advised by SME
As a strategic investment, a Swiss investor group advised by SME Equity Partners AG has acquired Ringier AG`s shares in Geschenkidee.ch GmbH, the operating company of geschenkidee.ch, the most popular online shop in Switzerland for gift items and experiences.
Joint venture in the area of digital marketplaces
In November, TX Group AG, Ringier AG, Mobiliar and General Atlantic launched their joint venture in the area of digital marketplaces with the name SMG Swiss Marketplace Group and an independent brand identity. SMG comprises the well-known platforms acheter-louer.ch, anibis.ch, AutoScout24, Car For You, FinanceScout24, home.ch, Homegate, icasa.ch, ImmoScout24, ImmoStreet.ch, MotoScout24, Ricardo, tutti.ch and advertising marketing. The company aims to be a digital pioneer, simplifying people's lives with groundbreaking products and driving the success of its customers. Swissness, simplicity, growth ambition and digital innovation define the brand image.
Interview by Ringier
On November 12, 2021, the former Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz AG launches a new premium magazine. "Interview by Ringier" focuses on people who make a difference, who surprise and convince. They give unusual insights into their lives, talk about ideas and successes - and talk about things that have shaped and changed them. The interviews are illustrated with photo series taken by internationally renowned photographers.
Sportal Media Group
In March, Ringier AG announces the acquisition of a majority stake in Sportal Media Group and Digital Ventures OOD. Sportal Media Group unites the leading online media in Bulgaria under one roof. Digital Ventures OOD is behind Sportal365 - the leading international content management system for sports news. The acquisition is a milestone in the acceleration of Ringier's sports media strategy.
Ringier acquires a stake in Virtusan
Ringier AG acquires a stake in Virtusan. The American-Swiss start-up develops science-based, technology-supported, preventative and personalised digital solutions in the area of mental and physical health. The core solution is an app aimed at private individuals and companies, which will be launched in spring 2022.
Palantir
Palantir Technologies Inc. and Ringier AG announce the continuation of their strategic partnership on May 20. Palantir's software will enable Ringier to further advance its digital transformation and accelerate its transition to a digitally oriented, global media company.
Joint login launched for Swiss Digital Alliance: OneLog
The Swiss Digital Alliance is launching a joint login. 20 Minuten and Ringier media will be the first to introduce the system, with other members of the Alliance expected to follow suit in 2022.
In July, Ringier AG further expands its activities in Eastern Europe
Ringier acquires all of Axel Springer's shares in Hungary, Serbia and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Only in Slovakia does the company founder retain a minority stake. The successful joint venture between Ringier and Axel Springer in Poland will remain unchanged.
Corona
The year is characterized by changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic: A hybrid working model was introduced, investments were made in podcasts and the six-part Blick series "Mein Corona-Herbst" (My Corona Autumn) was launched. However, employees also excelled this year and the Ringier Group achieved its best operating result since the start of its transformation into a digital media and technology group.
"Zukunft der Wirtschaft"
The Handelszeitung will be 160 years old with the issue published on December 2, 2021. To mark the anniversary, the editorial team is looking ahead and providing a comprehensive overview for an entire year under the motto "Zukunft der Wirtschaft" (The future of business).
2022
The Ringier Group has backed DECALIA Capital in executing a minority investment in EDGE Strategy
The capital invested in the Company will be used to accelerate international development, supporting Aniela Unguresan, its founder and her management team.
EqualVoice United
The fifth of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aims to achieve gender equality and the advancement of girls and women by 2030. Ringier believes it has a duty and is taking a strategic approach to this goal with the EqualVoice initiative. The EqualVoice United 2025 initiative aims to achieve gender equality in the Swiss workplace by 2025. In January 2022, ten well-known Swiss companies will sign a charter and become part of the EqualVoice United network.
LiveScore Group to Accelerate Global Expansion Following £50 Million Strategic Investment from Ringier AG
The deal will fuel the expansion of the industry-disrupting business which incorporates leading brands LiveScore, LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet. LiveScore Group is a rapidly scaling business, which has made significant share gains in highly competitive markets. This has been achieved through leveraging its differentiated customer acquisition funnel with bespoke gaming integrations across its LiveScore assets.
Committed to equality: Ringier and RASCH now EDGE-certified
Equality and a healthy gender balance are of central importance to Ringier and Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz (RASCH). Their drive to promote an inclusive corporate culture with greater equality of opportunity is now reflected in EDGE certification.
Ringier AG and Sportradar Group AG announce formation of joint venture in Africa
Joint support for leading digital media platform Pulse in developing sports information and entertainment services.
Artificial intelligence will be the dominant topic in the coming years
ChatGPT has been made available to the public, AI-powered search engines have become the norm and images can be generated artificially within seconds. Publisher Michael Ringier writes in the Annual Report 2022: "Artificial intelligence will become the dominant topic of the coming years - not just for us as a company, but for society as a whole." Ringier now generates almost 80% of its operating profit (EBITDA) with digital business models. This puts the company in the top group of European media companies.
Ringier Asia: The military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 led to a withdrawal in October 2022 due to a lack of signs of a return to democracy. After seven years of operating in Myanmar, Ringier decided to sell all of its assets in Myanmar and leave the country.
Ringier Sports launches a new sports streaming platform focusing on amateur sports
Together with the Blick Group, Ringier Sports is launching a new multi-sport streaming and OTT platform under the project name RED. RED focuses on team sports such as football, ice hockey, floorball, handball, basketball and many other sports that currently have no media presence. The service will start with coverage of Swiss 1. Liga football matches in August 2022, and will include all matches in the Yapeal Promotion League and the 1. Liga Classic.
Ringier Sports Media Group (RSMG)
Sport has always been a mainstay of Ringier's publishing business. In May, Ringier Sports Media Group (RSMG) was founded as an independent subsidiary to expand the digital sports media sector internationally. RSMG will unite leading digital sports media brands, offer state-of-the-art products via joint technology platforms and create synergies with the help of a uniform organizational and management structure. Ringier is thus taking an important step in the highly competitive sports media industry. In July 2023, one year after its foundation, the Ringier Sports Media Group portfolio comprises 9 sports media brands in 7 countries. Ringier underlines its ambitions in the sports media business through a partnership with LiveScore, investing substantially in LiveScore's fast-growing sports media and gaming business.
Ringier suspends its consultancy mandate with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder
Ringier suspends its consultancy mandate with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder with immediate effect. This is by mutual agreement.
Ringier acquires Homsters, leading SaaS-provider for new property developments
Ringier has acquired all shares in Homsters Asia Pte. Ltd., a Singapore based software company with offices in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, from founders and co-investors. CEO Dmitriy Aleksandrov will join Ringier and continue to develop the leading SaaS-provider of automated digital marketing solutions for new property developments.
Acquiring all shares in Ringier One Africa Media (ROAM)
In December, Ringier signed an agreement to acquire all shares in Ringier One Africa Media (ROAM) from its co-shareholder SEEK Ltd. and the two minority shareholders Jabavu Limited and Ceatonia Limited.
Ringier Romania: Imobiliare acquires DSA Advisor, one of the leading mortgage brokers in Romania
Imobiliare, the leading digital real estate platform in Romania and part of Swiss based Ringier Group since 2015, acquires DSA Advisor, one of the leading mortgage brokers in the country. While the transaction is an important strategic milestone for Imobiliare on its path to diversification by adding financial services for real estate to its portfolio, DSA Advisor aims to accelerate its growth through digital transformation under the roof of Imobiliare.
111th anniversary of Schweizer Illustrierte
In December 2022, Schweizer Illustrierte is celebrating its 111th anniversary with a special 100-page issue featuring stories that span the gap between yesterday and today. 11 events - one from each decade - were covered by Schweizer Illustrierte and serve as a hook for exciting interviews with Swiss personalities.
EqualVoice Summit
In May, EqualVoice launches the EqualVoice Summit, the first discourse on gender equality in the media. It is the first in a series of events to which high-caliber speakers will be invited and an important exchange between top executives from leading international companies will be launched.
Peter Hossli to become Director of Ringier School of Journalism
Peter Hossli, 52, the well-known journalist and author, currently a reporter at NZZ am Sonntag, will be taking over as Director of the Ringier School of Journalism from 1 May 2022. He succeeds Hannes Britschgi, who is stepping down from the role after 12 years.
2023
Strengthening the Dutch sports media landscape
In a strategic move that will strengthen the Dutch sports media landscape, the newly founded joint venture between Ringier Sports Media Group AG (RSMG) and DPG Media Group is now officially underway. The key highlight of this joint venture is the transformation of Sportnieuws.nl, leveraging the strong resources and expertise of RSMG. Their playbook will be implemented to enhance and revamp the content and user experience on the platform.
Gazeta Sporturilor goes all-in on digital
Ringier Sports Media Group (RSMG), the owner of GazetaSporturilor and GSP.ro, has decided to undertake a strategic restructuring by discontinuing the loss-making print division and focusing 100% on the digital platform GSP.ro in the future.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already firmly anchored in the everyday work of journalists in 2023. Ringier was one of the first media companies to set standardized guidelines for dealing with AI in 2023. Ringier is thus taking responsibility for transparently disclosing the use of AI and minimizing the risks associated with AI.
The position of AI Officer is introduced in November. This position will coordinate Group-wide AI initiatives and drive innovation and digital transformation throughout the company. In addition, an August Advisory Board supports the Ringier Group's initiatives in relation to generative AI and promotes the exchange of information on general developments and trends relating to generative AI.
Ringier nominates AI Advisory Board
To strengthen its expertise in the field of artificial intelligence, an AI Advisory Board staffed with international specialists will advise the Ringier Group in the future. The members of the AI Advisory Board will broaden the Ringier Group’s perspective on generative artificial intelligence, as well as support the exchange on general developments and trends around generative AI by leveraging their extensive international networks.
“Editorial Mission Statement”
In July 2023, the Board of Directors of Ringier AG adopts an “Editorial Mission Statement”, which will be introduced as a binding guideline for journalistic work at all media brands worldwide. The Editorial Mission Statement sets out the Ringier Group's shared understanding of journalism that informs, entertains and creates trust and is committed to the values of democracy, human dignity and freedom.
The “Ringier International Editorial Standards and Innovation Board” deals with Ringier's publications, assesses and promotes leadership and innovation.
Management buy-out at GetYourLawyer
At the end of March 2023, the founders acquired the shares of Ringier Axel Springer Switzerland in GetYourLawyer.
Ringier has acquired all shares of Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz AG (RASCH)
Ringier will acquire all shares in Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz AG (RASCH) in September 2023. Ringier will thus become the sole owner of the portfolio with a total of 20 of the highest-reach magazine and journal titles in Switzerland, including Beobachter, Handelszeitung, Bilanz, cash.ch, Tele, Schweizer Illustrierte, Landliebe, Glückspost, L'illustré, PME and others. These former RASCH media titles and the Blick Group will now be managed under the umbrella of “Ringier Medien Schweiz” and headed by their own CEO. The titles will no longer be supplied only from their own editorial offices, but also from the newsroom of Ringier Media Switzerland. This will allow synergies to be exploited and efficiency to be increased.
EqualVoice: From an idea to an international movement in just three years
In 2022, the Ringier initiative EqualVoice passes important milestones on its way to becoming an international movement. The current highlight: Ringier CFO Annabella Bassler's invitation to speak at the International Peace Institute (IPI) in New York.
Ringier Serbia transfers ownership of the media company NIN d.o.o. in Serbia
Ringier Serbia Ltd. is transferring its entire share in NIN d.o.o. to Jelena Drakulić Petrović, its General Director.
The Ringier Sports Media Group expands into Greece launching the digital Sports Media platform sportal.gr
The Ringier Sports Media Group (RSMG) launched sportal.gr, a digital sports platform offering sports fans in Greece video-first based news, commentary, analysis, interviews, statistics and live results, bundled in a state-of-the art product experience.
OneID: New digital advertising technology initiative – from Switzerland, for Switzerland
With the launch of the new OneID service, marketers are working together to create a basic technology in the form of a digital advertising ID. This will enable advertisers to address Swiss users across publishers over programmatic shopping platforms easily and with no overlaps, which was previously possible only on major international platforms.
A Bola
In July 2023, Ringier Sports Media Group (RSMG) acquired Sociedade Vicra Desportiva SA including A Bola (newspaper, digital and TV). A Bola is not only Portugal's best-known and most iconic sports media brand, but also a global player with a broad readership in Brazil and Portuguese-speaking Africa. The transaction will allow RSMG to focus even more on its growth and investment strategy in the sports media content and fan community business.
2024
Liberta Partners acquires DeinDeal AG
Liberta Partners, a Munich-based multi-family holding, has acquired leading Swiss e-commerce player DeinDeal AG (“DeinDeal”) from Ringier who owned the majority of DeinDeal since 2015.
“The Grandchild Scammers” – izzy Projects releases first movie
The grandchild scammers scare their victims over the phone with so-called “shock calls”. The losses run into the millions. Month after month. Many victims are severely traumatized. But the scam has a weakness. And the izzy team found it. The 80-minute izzy film “The Grandchild Scammers” will be available exclusively for streaming from Monday, February 5th for CHF 3.90 at enkeltrickbetrueger.ch or for Blick+ subscribers at Blick.ch.
Closure of Swissprinters AG
In February 2024, Ringier announced the closure of the long-established company Swissprinters. The printing market has been in a difficult situation across Europe for several years. As a result, Ringier will also have to cease printing operations on September 30, 2024 due to a constant decline in order revenues and difficult economic prospects for the future. Among other things, around 240 apartments are to be built on the traditional Swissprinters AG site, which covers around 55,000 square meters.
ESG
The topics of environment, social and governance (ESG) are of great importance to the Ringier Group. In 2022, a Group-wide ESG concept was developed and adopted, which has been implemented since the beginning of 2023. In 2024, an ESG report was published for the first time for the 2023 financial year as part of the annual reporting.
Ladina Heimgartner Elected President of WAN-IFRA
During WAN-IFRA’s 75th WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark, Ladina Heimgartner, Head Media Ringier AG & CEO Ringier Media Switzerland, was elected President of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers.
Ringier develops media chatbot powered by Google Cloud
In the field of artificial intelligence, a media chatbot based on Google Cloud will be developed from March 2024 as part of a partnership with Google. The collaboration with Google Cloud underlines Ringier's claim to be at the forefront of technological innovation and development within the media industry as an international digital media company.
Beobachter launches chatbot on the subject of family law
Beobachter is now providing a chatbot for quick and uncomplicated legal advice on family and inheritance law. To ensure an optimal user experience, the performance of the artificial intelligence was tested intensively.
Thanks to AI, Steffi Buchli now reads all Blick articles aloud
Thanks to AI, the voice of Steffi Buchli, Chief Content Officer Ringier Media Switzerland, will read articles on Blick.ch aloud from June 2024. For the read-aloud function, Blick is relying on the expertise of the internal Ringier AI Boost team, in which the editorial team and IT developers work hand in hand to create new tools with AI for everyday editorial work.
OneID is available to the Swiss advertising market
The new ID solution for digital advertising allows advertisers to target Swiss users efficiently and without overlaps across different digital publishers.
Ringier Media Switzerland positions itself to be powerful and economically sustainable
The integration of the Blick Group, RASCH, Ringier Advertising and Ringier Mediatech & Services under the new umbrella of Ringier Media Switzerland (RMS) will bring changes. The new, future-oriented organization of RMS is designed to respond quickly, flexibly and effectively to user needs and industry developments. At the same time, the cost base is to be sustainably optimized.
Following the completion of the consultation process, the number of jobs to be cut will be reduced from 75 to 55. A social plan will be implemented for the affected employees.
