Aschendorff and Westfalen-Blatt consolidate media operations in new holding company
Münster-based Aschendorff and Bielefeld-based Westfalen-Blatt merged their media activities under the new Westfälische Medien Holding AG, effective January 1, 2019.
The Aschendorff media group, based in Münster, and the Westfalen-Blatt media group, based in Bielefeld, have combined their media activities in the Münsterland and Ostwestfalen regions under the joint umbrella of Westfälische Medien Holding AG, effective January 1, 2019. The fusion is not expected to impact the current structures of the two companies in their respective regions, as both will continue to operate as subsidiaries of Westfälische Medien Holding AG.
The new holding company will consolidate the daily newspaper, advertising paper, printing, broadcasting, and travel agency businesses of both publishing houses. Aschendorff, which publishes, among others, the daily newspapers "Westfälische Nachrichten" and "Münstersche Zeitung" in the Münsterland region, has indirectly held a stake in "Westfalen-Blatt" since 2011 through C.W. Busse Holding.
This consolidation comes as regional media outlets navigate significant shifts in the industry, including the transition to digital platforms and evolving reader habits. The merger aims to leverage economies of scale in areas such as printing, distribution, and content creation, as well as foster joint development of digital offerings.
The establishment of Westfälische Medien Holding AG represents a strategic move to strengthen the local media landscape and ensure continued service to their respective communities in a competitive market.