Zurich, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Tamedia, which is scheduled to buy out the Swiss business of Edipresse if the competition commission approves the deal, has published less than rosy results for 2008: a 30 percent fall in profits, to CHF105.8 million. The company’s sales rose 21 percent to CHF895.7m, but this was due mainly to absorbing Bern-based Espace Media Group.

Tamedia and Edipresse are the country’s second and third largest publishers, after Zurich-based Ringier. While Tamedia notes that online sales have risen strongly, up 47percent, the base remains relatively small, at CHF84m. Regional newspapers continue to lose ground, Tamedia notes.

The company says that it does not expect to see an improvement in 2009.

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