Swiss publisher Tamedia reported turnover up but profits drop in the first half of 2008, Newspaper Innovation reported.

The company publishes paid paper Tages Anzeiger (Zurich) and Berner Zeitung, as well as free dailies 20 Minuten/Minutes and News in Switzerland. It also publishes free publication L'Essentiel in Luxembourg.

Start-up cost of free dailies, including News (launched in December 2007) and L'Essentiel (October 2007) led to higher costs.

Other reasons to lower profits include the expansion of the Web site of 20 Minuten and disappointing results of the Espace Group (Berne), Newspaper Innovation reported.