by Tatiana Repkova

Cofina SGPS plans to invest about 2 million euro to launch a free daily newspaper which will begin publication June 6, according to an official source at the media group. The paper, to be called Meia Hora, will print 100,000 copies and will have between 24-32 pages in full colour. It will compete with paid reference Portuguese dailies such as Publico, owned by Sonaecom SGPS, and Diario de Noticias.

AFX News Limited; http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/05/24/afx3754595.html; May 24, 2007

by Tatiana Repkova

The media houses Tamedia (Tages Anzeiger, 20 Minuten among others) and Espace Media Groupe (Berner Zeitung, der Bund) have agreed to merge their businesses. For those purposes, Tamedia will acquire the majority of shares of Espace Media Groupe. In return, the existing majority owners of Espace Media, first and foremost the families of Erwin Reinhardt-Scherz and Charles von Graffenried, will acquire an interest in Tamedia.

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