Annual Report 2011

VG Media House

  • Total media house coverage (print, web, mobile): of more than two million people.
  • Strong growth in traffic and revenues for mobile; the users are moving to mobile devices.
  • New platform for paid services on VG Nett.
  • Breakthrough for live TV on the web, and VGTV established as an important news channel.
  • Launch of several paid services. 
 VG  MEDIA HOUSE (MNOK)20112010
Advertising revenues, print 360 418
Circulation revenues, print 1,115 1,143
Online revenues 365 328
Other revenues 66 20
Operating revenues 1,906 1,909
Gross operating profit (EBITDA) before share of profit (loss) from associated companies
310 338
Gross operating margin (EBITDA) 16 % 18 %

The VG media house publishes VG, Norway's largest single-copy newspaper, vg.no, Norway's largest website, touch.vg.no for mobile devices, and Dine Penger, Norway's largest personal finance magazine. The media house operates E24, Norway's most-visited business and financial news website, and the online tender service Mittanbud.no.

The decline in print circulation was partly compensated for by a price increase. Advertising revenues for the VG media house increased in 2011.

The average newspaper circulation (weekdays) was 211,588 copies (-9.3 %). The fall in circulation remained at the same level as for the recent years.

Total advertising revenues for the VG media house increased by 2 per cent compared to 2010. Advertising revenues for VG print fell, while online revenues rose.

There was also a focus on profitability measures in 2011. The IT and finance staff functions were coordinated within Schibsted.

In a market undergoing rapid change, the VG media house is strongly committed to digital products. During 2011 many of VG's users made the transition to VG's digital products on mobile phones and tablets. Cooperation with Schibsted's other online services has been consolidated during the course of the year. The media house can develop and offer advertisers exciting and attractive solutions that combine print, web, web TV, tablet and mobile.

VG Nett holds a firm position as Norway's largest and most important news website, and the number of visitors per day to VG Nett continued to grow in 2011. The average number of daily users was 5 per cent higher than in 2010, despite the closure of Nettby at the turn of 2010/2011.

VG's web TV venture, VGTV, also reported good growth in 2011. The number of weekly users grew by 41 per cent, while the number of page views grew by 27 per cent compared to previous year.

VG mobile achieved impressive growth. The number of weekly users grew by 109 per cent, while the number of page views grew by as much as 144 per cent when looking at week 52 in 2011 compared with the same period in 2010.

2011 was an extreme year in terms of news. The events in Japan, North Africa and not least, in Norway on 22 July, presented immense journalistic and technical/operational challenges for VG. As well as the expected growth on the web, these events accelerated the transition to mobile platforms.

PRODUCT CHANGES

  • VGTV established as a news channel, and the breakthrough for live TV on the web.
  • Launch of various apps to boost mobile traffic and accessibility.
  • Several new advertising formats for print, web, web TV and mobile.

AMBITIONS

  • VG will challenge, amaze, delight, engage and help, and we will never be boring.
  • VG will have the expertise to shape the everyday media of the future.
  • VG will be Norway's most attractive and innovative media house.
  • VG will be a media house with good profitability.
  • Facts about VG (Content is updated)

    VG was founded after the Second World War by a group of individuals with close ties to the Norwegian liberation movement. The first edition came out on 23 June 1945. Schibsted has owned VG since 1966.

    The newspaper has continually worked on innovation and brand-building, and is one of Norway’s strongest brands. This has given VG a unique position in the Norwegian newspaper market: VG must be perceived as Norway’s leading provider of news, entertainment and other information of topical interest, 24 hours a day.

    In addition to publishing Norway’s biggest non-subscription newspaper, the VG media house develops and provides VG’s advertisers with exciting and attractive solutions that combine paper, the internet and mobile communication.

    VG Multimedia is a wholly-owned subsidiary which operates VG Nett, Norway's most popular website. VG also operates E24, which is Norway’s most-visited website for financial news and owns the companies Dine Penger and VG Mobil.

    The company is part of Schibsted Norge. The head office is situated in Oslo.

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