Swiss Post trials personalised daily newspapers
Swiss Post has launched the first personalised daily newspaper in Switzerland for a one-year market trial. MyNewspaper allows subscribers to select the content that interests them from various national and international newspapers, which is then assembled and printed for delivery in physical form.
It might mean taking the sports section from one newspaper, the politics section from another, and local news from a third newspaper.
Swiss Post, which is working with 11 national and international publishers on the product, said it product combined the advantages of both electronic and physical news media.
“The first personalizable newspaper on the Swiss market should not be regarded as competition for existing publications,” said Swiss Post. “Instead, it will allow publishers to extend the reach of their newspapers and attract new readers. Swiss Post, for its part, provides its logistics experience and manages the interface between publishers and readers.”
For Swiss Post, the project will generate physical mail volumes – the company aims to deliver the MyNewspaper the day after an order is placed to a home address or PO box. The newspapers are digitally printed overnight at the Härkingen Letter Centre.
MyNewspapers are digitally printed overnight at the Härkingen Letter Centre
During the trial, the printed versions will be available in the major urban centres of Zurich, Basel, Berne, Lucerne and Aarau. Prices start at CHF 60 per month.
The MyNewspaper is also available in electronic form from anywhere in the world, for a CHF 21 price.
Swiss Post said it wanted to use the trial to find out what level of demand there is for a printed personalised newspaper at the offered pricing.
Earlier this year, Swiss Post launched a service delivering international editions of Swiss newspapers overseas on the day of publication via its hybrid mail system.
The company sees big opportunities ahead for digital communications, with former IBM and British Telecom executive Susanne Ruoff set to build on the ambitions when she takes over as CEO from next September.
