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History
Founder Johan Frederik Wegener |
From De Nieuwe Courant to Koninklijke Wegener NV
In November 1903, Johan Frederik Wegener launched a news and advertising paper in Apeldoorn called De Nieuwe Courant, which later became Apeldoornse Courant, and is now known as de Stentor. The first journalist was employed in 1904. That small local publisher has grown into Koninklijke Wegener NV, a Euronext-listed leading newspaper and multimedia business based in Apeldoorn.
Wegener’s Couranten Concern
Founder J.F Wegener died in 1933 and was succeeded by his son Jo. In that very same year, Jo changed the name and legal position of his father’s company to Wegener’s Couranten Concern NV. Two years later, the company acquired Het Zuiden, the free local newspaper for Rotterdam and the Rotterdam region. In 1961, the Wegener dynasty came to an end when director Jo Wegener died suddenly at the age of 57.
Royal
He was succeeded at the helm by Gerard Spanhaak, Peter Appeldoorn, Jan Houwert and Joop Munsterman, respectively. The current chairman of the Executive Board of Koninklijke Wegener NV is Truls Velgaard. Wegener was floated in 1969, and in 1975 started a series of takeovers by acquiring the Drents Groningse Pers. When Wegener celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2003, it was awarded the title Koninklijk [Royal].
Highlights since flotation
1975 Takeover of Drents Groningse Pers (daily newspapers and free local papers)
1981 Takeover of Holding Utrechts Nieuwsblad (daily newspapers and free local papers)
1985 Start of direct marketing activities
1988 Takeover of Koninklijke Tijl (daily newspapers and free local papers)
1992 Takeover of Oostelijke Dagbladen Combinatie (daily newspapers and free local papers)
1992 Takeover of Suurland (council guides and cartography)
1994 Takeover of Sijthoff Pers (daily newspapers and free local papers)
1996 Takeover of Arcade (radio, TV, record companies, music publishers and music retail business)
1997 Takeover of Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant (daily newspapers and free local papers)
1999 Takeover of Dudley Jenkins Group (UK direct marketing)
2000 Takeover of VNU Dagbladen Groep (daily newspapers, free local papers and printing plants)
2001 Takeover of Sopres (Belgium and France direct marketing)
2005 Joint venture with PCM Uitgevers: AD Nieuwsmedia (37%) (daily newspapers)
2006 Sale of Wegener DM and magazines
2007 Sale of Wegener Fieldmarketing
2007 Mecom acquires 87% of Wegener shares
News from the local area
J.F. Wegener’s original 1903 objective with his local paper was ‘to provide good news from elsewhere, but primarily news from the local area itself’, and over the years that objective has not changed. With its deep regional involvement and knowledge, Wegener still delivers information to readers, making it the region’s preeminent information provider. However, now more than ever before, regional newspapers, free local newspapers and websites are also trying to serve readers with practical information and special products.
Wegener is the Netherlands’ largest publisher of regional newspapers and free local papers, delivering 0.9 million newspapers to its readers across a large part of the Netherlands every day. Wegener produces more than 8.1 million newspapers and free local papers every week, as well as developing internet products and providing graphic design products and services.
In 2007, 87% of Wegener was acquired by British publishing firm Mecom Group Plc, which has operations in Germany, Norway, Denmark and Poland. Mecom has owned Media Groep Limburg since 2006.
Activities
- 7 regional daily newspapers
- over 200 free local newspapers
- 7 regional internet portals
- 16 village squares (local communities)
- 5 special interest websites
- Jobtrack.nl
- Autotrack.nl
- Kleintjesmarkt.nl (supply and demand)
- deOndernemer.nl
- 3 newspaper printing sites
- Funda.nl (30%)
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Wegener producten
Dagbladen
7 regional newspapers. Daily reach of over 2.4 million people.
Huis-aan-huiskranten
Over 225 local door-to-door papers. Weekly reach of 6.8 million people.
Online
National network of news and special interest sites, monthly reach of 3 million people.
Speciaal Media
Concept and realization of print and new media products.
The job site for MBO and HBO, 800,000 monthly visitors and thousands of new jobs each week.
Site for new and used cars,
2.8 million monthly.
Website with daily local discount offers of at least 50%.
Producer of newspapers and newspaper-style magazines.
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