Switzerland's oldest Sunday newspaper shuts down after 57 years

The Sonntags-Blick, Switzerland's oldest Sunday newspaper, will cease publication at the end of 2024 after 57 years. Its circulation has plummeted from 260,000 copies in 2008 to just 75,000 today, falling behind competitors Sonntags-Zeitung and NZZ am Sonntag. The paper will be integrated into the Saturday edition of the Blick. Founded by Ringier-Verlag on March 23, 1969, as Switzerland's first Sunday newspaper, it was known for its red vending machines that became iconic in townscapes. The last machines were removed in 2024. The paper focused on sensational stories, entertainment, and lifestyle. Notable scoops include a 2006 leaked fax from the Egyptian foreign ministry suggesting CIA secret prisons in Europe. It also faced scandals, notably a fabricated love affair involving Swiss ambassador Thomas Borer, leading to a front-page apology and damages. Columnist Frank A. Meyer has been a constant presence. Ringier follows a trend of other media houses converting Sunday papers to Saturday editions, such as CH Media's Schweiz am Sonntag becoming Schweiz am Wochenende in 2017, and German papers FAZ am Sonntag and Welt am Sonntag now appearing on Saturdays. The closure will increase distribution costs for the remaining two Swiss Sunday papers, NZZ am Sonntag and Sonntags-Zeitung, which plan to continue but face uncertain futures.