The figures
‘The first thing I have to say: in 2012 our EBITDA was 8.7
million, with turnover of 48.9 million against costs of 40.2 million - a
margin of 18%. We therefore achieved a good financial result. Yet I have
mixed feelings about this because the result is largely due to cost efficiency
and not through growth in turnover. The advertising market
remains a concern. Turnover is under pressure because our major
investors, the banks, are still encountering difficulties. In the reader
market it was a magnificent year. De Tijd and L’Echo achieved combined
growth of 3% to an average of 56,200 copies per day.’
Looking back
‘Simultaneous with the Berliner format we launched
a new approach, with attention being paid to the local business world
and local policy. That made a fantastic contribution to the rejuvenation
of our target group. Last March we also launched an updated tablet paper.
Mediafin is the leader in the digital reader market. With a growth
of 74% almost a quarter of our readers read De Tijd and L’Echo on a
tablet. Through the acquisition of ContentRepublic we are capitalising
on strategic corporate communication projects, an example of which is
a major cross-media project for Microsoft. A high point was the annual
New Insights for our community of entrepreneurs, bankers, opinion
leaders and business leaders – this time with Nobel Prize winner Paul
Krugman! But the crowning glory came at the end of 2012 when De Tijd
was voted European Newspaper of the Year.’
Looking ahead
‘We have two major projects lined up. There will be
a refreshing concept for mobile with a completely new user experience.
We will also be giving the Saturday papers a new weekend feel with a
different ‘beat’: more opinion, fun and enjoyment. In September we will
be implementing the Berliner operation on the website: online we will
also be broadening to business, policy, innovation and technology, without
losing sight of the investors. For them there will be an “investor’s
zone” à la MarketWatch. I firmly believe that these developments will
place us in a good position strategically and that’s why we’ve already
made a start on them!’
Dirk Velghe
Directeur général Mediafin
