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overview
holdings
chronology
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overview
This profile deals with the Norwegian A-pressen group.
It covers -
introduction
The Nordic A-pressen group
is the majority owner of 45 Norwegian newspapers, has
a 33% share of commercial television broadcast network
TV2 and indirect interests in TVNorge. It is 29% owned
by Sanoma WSOY.
A-pressen's corporate site is here.
evolution of the group
The Oslo-based group was established in the 1940s but
traces its origins to establishment of the workers newspaper
Vort Arbeid in 1884. It has been strongly associated
with the Norwegian Labour movement: for most of its history
and that of its predecessors the A-pressen newspapers
were owned by the Social Democratic Party or trade union
organisations. Its site boasts that "First came the
newspaper, then the party".
Adverse markets since the 1950s resulted in closure of
a number of local Left newspapers and, ultimately, flotation
of A-pressen.
A history is here.
As of 2001 A-pressen was the majority owner of 45 local
and regional newspapers. It also owns has stakes (under
50%) in five newspapers. 42 of the newspapers are leaders
in their markets. It owns eight printing companies and
is the majority owner of the A-pressen Interaktiv and
Funn internet companies. It has a 65% stake in printing
and publishing operations in Russia.
The group's main assets now involve television.
A-pressen is the major owner (with Schibsted)
of national network TV2, which has a substantial stake
in the newer TVNorge. It had over 40% of the Oslo local
television that went bankrupt in 1998. It is the majority
shareholder in four other local television stations and
through its newspapers has stakes in another four local
stations.
holdings
An indication of the group's holdings is here.
studies
There is no major English-language study of A-pressen.
The Schibsted, Bonnier, Sanoma, Alma and Orkla profiles
highlight works about markets and regulation.
 next
page (holdings)
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