Observed Signal · Sep 8, 2026 · Interview · Source: Meedia · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
RND Leaders Discuss Platform Dependency and Subscription Strategy
In an interview with MEEDIA, Denni Klein and Lina Timm, the co-CEOs of Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) within the Madsack Mediengruppe, discuss their first nine months in leadership. They outline their 'Abo First' and 'Regionaljournalismus First' strategy, emphasizing direct customer relationships to reduce platform dependency. The RND network partners with 139 media outlets and has grown digital subscriptions to about 375,000, with a 10-15% growth in Plus-Abos despite industry stagnation. They highlight their newsletter initiative (70+ local '5in5' newsletters, 1.1 million total newsletter subscriptions) as a key tool for loyalty and churn reduction. The leaders also address their shift away from optimizing for both advertising and subscription, their use of AI for content processing, and a major investment in a new data platform/CDP to power hyper-personalization.
Insights from a major German publishing group on subscription growth, platform dependency, and digital transformation strategies.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- RND has around 375,000 digital subscriptions and 500,000 print subscriptions.
- Madsack is investing an eight-figure sum in a data platform, CDP, and customer marketing platform.
- RND has over 70 local '5in5' newsletters and a total of 1.1 million newsletter subscriptions.
- The RND network partners with 139 media outlets.
- RND is growing Plus-Abo subscriptions by 10-15% despite industry stagnation.
- A Google update in summer 2025 caused significant traffic and revenue losses for the industry.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Madsack is investing an eight-figure amount in a new data platform, a Customer Data Platform, and a Customer Marketing Platform.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
RND Launches 'RND Voices' to Build Journalist Brands
The Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), part of the Madsack media group, has launched a new program called 'RND Voices' to develop selected reporters into 'journalist brands' (publizistische Personenmarken). The multi-month training concept was developed together with journalist and moderator Victoria Reichelt, who specializes in new media and young target groups. The program aims to make selected reporters more visible to audiences through increased use of video, audio, and live formats. The initiative spans all partner newsrooms of the RND, with editors-in-chief nominating candidates. RND Chief Editor Sven Clausen leads the program alongside Dany Schrader, editor-in-chief of Hannoversche Allgemeine, and RND Video Chief Sophie Peschke. Clausen emphasized that RND differentiates itself from AI-driven approaches by leveraging real reporters on the ground. The RND supplies content to 135 media brands, including titles like Leipziger Volkszeitung, Hannoversche Allgemeine, Kölner Stadtanzeiger, and Neue Westfälische.
RND launches politics podcast 'If You Knew...'
Madsack’s Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) has launched a new weekly politics podcast titled "Wenn Sie wüssten..." ("If You Knew...") hosted by RND editor-in-chief Eva Quadbeck, deputy Berlin bureau chief Kristina Dunz and documentarian Stephan Lamby. The series — developed with RND Fortis, Madsack’s unit for newsletters and digital products — promises critical, persistent and fair reporting on how politics operates behind the scenes. The first episode addresses an alleged private confrontation between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner about handling the AfD. RND says Lamby will rotate weekly with Dunz and Quadbeck, and the publisher cites a reported monthly digital reach of 100 million visits across Madsack titles and partner outlets.
Tamedia: Subscriptions Are the Strategic Focus
Tamedia CEO Jessica Peppel-Schulz said in an interview with Austria's Der Standard that the company is building new digital subscription models, including so-called "Limited Abos" for readers who want selective topic access. Currently about 85% of Tamedia's revenues come from print; the company aims for a 60% print / 40% digital revenue mix within five years. Since bringing its ad sales back in-house as Tamedia Advertising in early 2025, Tamedia reports its digital advertising business grew by 30% despite a shrinking market. Tamedia also reports measurable increases in search-driven reach — Google traffic up 40% in six months and cross-brand Google visibility up 140% in 12 months. A 2023 employment guarantee for journalists expires at the end of September; the CEO declined to give absolute long-term job guarantees.
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