Axel Springer

What Axel Springer does

Axel Springer SE is a transatlantic digital media and technology company headquartered in Berlin, operating a portfolio of leading news brands across Europe and the United States, including BILD, WELT, POLITICO, Business Insider, AUTO BILD, SPORT BILD, The Telegraph, Bisnow, and Morning Brew. Following a major 2024-2025 corporate restructuring, KKR and CPP Investments acquired the classifieds segment (Stepstone, Aviv Group, Awin, finanzen.net) for approximately €10 billion, while Friede Springer and CEO Mathias Döpfner retained the media assets at a €3.5 billion valuation. The company reports pro-forma group revenue of €2.2 billion for 2025 in the new structure, with adjusted EBIT up 29.4 percent.

The company's revenue model spans five streams: digital subscriptions (Telegraph's 1.09 million paid readers generating £68.5 million in 2024, POLITICO Pro B2B newsletters), advertising across print and digital properties, AI licensing agreements with partners including OpenAI, live events (Bisnow hosts 400+ events annually across 47 markets), and traditional print publications. Distribution combines owned digital platforms, mobile apps (including a BILD app for Apple Vision Pro), FAST channels (AUTO BILD TV), and B2B field sales. The company operates offices in Berlin, Hamburg, New York, Washington D.C., Brussels, London, and Paris, with geographic reach across Europe, North America, and select international markets.

Axel Springer's strategic positioning centers on digital transformation and AI integration, with a stated mission to become the leading provider of AI-based journalism for the free world. Recent moves include the £575 million acquisition of Telegraph Media Group (approved April 2026), the formation of Brew Media Group combining Bisnow and Morning Brew under Robert Dippell, and the launch of four POLITICO Pro German B2B verticals. The company serves diversified customer segments including general news consumers, B2B decision-makers, commercial real estate professionals, and advertisers, with a hybrid segmentation approach across both consumer and enterprise markets.

Name

Axel Springer

Legal name

Axel Springer SE

Website

https://axelspringer.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Axel Springer is a transatlantic digital media company operating news brands including BILD, WELT, POLITICO, Business Insider, and The Telegraph. It serves consumer readers and B2B professionals across Europe and the US through digital subscriptions, advertising, live events, and AI-powered journalism.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital News Media

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (51311), Periodical Publishers (513120), Periodical Publishers (51312), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business, Financial & Trade News Publishers (MPAJADAC), Newsletters & Email-Based News Publishers (B2B/B2C) (MPAJADAJ), Consumer News & Digital Newsrooms (Web/App-First) (MPAJADAD)

Keywords

• Digital news media
• Newspaper publishing
• Media subscriptions
• Policy intelligence
• Digital advertising

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Digital Subscriptions and Paid Content: Subscription-based revenue from digital news products including POLITICO Pro newsletters targeting B2B decision-makers. Telegraph generates subscription revenues of £68.5 million (2024, up 18% YoY).
2. Advertising Revenue: Print and digital advertising across portfolio including BILD, WELT, AUTO BILD, POLITICO, BUSINESS INSIDER. Print advertising declining (Telegraph print at £29m).
3. Licensing Deals: AI licensing agreements with OpenAI and other AI companies for journalism content, training data, and chatbot usage. Major publishers including News Corp, FT, Axel Springer have secured licensing agreements with OpenAI.
4. Events and Live Experiences: Events business through Bisnow (400+ events annually, 75% of $40M revenue) and Brew Media Group. Sports events coverage including Bundesliga video clips rights.
5. Print Publications: Traditional print newspaper and magazine revenue, though structurally declining. Telegraph derives roughly 60% of revenue from print while digital subscriber growth comes from discounted offers.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Axel Springer is a transatlantic media and technology company that publishes a diversified portfolio of digital-first news brands across Europe and the United States, including BILD, WELT, POLITICO, Business Insider, AUTO BILD, The Telegraph, Bisnow, and Morning Brew. It sells digital and print news subscriptions, B2B policy intelligence products (POLITICO Pro newsletters), advertising across its media properties, live events, and AI content licensing. Revenue is generated from subscriptions, advertising, licensing royalties, and event fees.

Product overview

Axel Springer is a transatlantic media and technology company operating a diversified portfolio of digital-first news media brands across Europe and the United States. The company is structured around two main segments: News Media (BILD, WELT, POLITICO, BUSINESS INSIDER, AUTO BILD, SPORT BILD, B.Z., Gründerszene, ICON, and international publications including The Telegraph) and Digital Marketing/Commerce (Bonial, Idealo). The News Media segment is organized into operational groups including the BILD-Gruppe, PREMIUM-GRUPPE (WELT, POLITICO Deutschland, BUSINESS INSIDER Deutschland), and the recently established Brew Media Group. Recent acquisitions include Bisnow (B2B commercial real estate media/events) and Morning Brew (business media) under Brew Media Group, as well as the Telegraph Media Group (UK) for £575 million. POLITICO offers B2B Pro newsletters covering industry, energy, health, and technology sectors. The company also operates retail marketing (Bonial), price comparison (idealo), and journalism training (Axel Springer Academy).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PREMIUM-GRUPPE: Alliance comprising WELT-Gruppe, POLITICO Deutschland and Business Insider Deutschland, collectively reaching more than 40 million users per month. Each brand serves as a competence center for the group while maintaining editorial independence.
• Brew Media Group
• POLITICO Pro
• Axel Springer Academy of Journalism & Technology
• Freedom Foundation
• BILDplay
• Goldenes Lenkrad
• Axel Springer Prize for Young Journalism
• Sven-Simon-Award

Products and services

• BILD Germany's largest tabloid newspaper and digital news platform, offering 24/7 news coverage, sports reporting (including SPORT BILD), video content, and talk shows. Part of the BILD-Gruppe.
• WELT German national newspaper offering analytical depth, bold debate, and journalistic substance targeting decision-makers in business and politics. Includes WELT AM SONNTAG and the WELT-Gruppe.
• POLITICO Transatlantic political and policy news organization with over 1,000 journalists in Washington, Brussels, London, Paris, Berlin, Sacramento, and New York. Offers B2B Pro newsletters covering politics, technology, energy, healthcare, and industry sectors.
• BUSINESS INSIDER Business journalism platform covering corporate news, finance, markets, and strategy. Includes BUSINESS INSIDER Deutschland as part of the PREMIUM-GRUPPE.
• AUTO BILD Germany's largest automotive media brand, offering car tests, comparisons, buying guides, and news. Includes AUTO BILD TV FAST channel, AUTO BILD REISEMOBIL, AUTO BILD KLASSIK, and AUTO BILD DIGITAL. Reaches 10 million people monthly across all channels.
• SPORT BILD Sports publication covering football, Bundesliga, NFL, and major sporting events. Includes formats like REIF IST LIVE, FC BAYERN INSIDER, and the NFL show 'Playbook'.
• B.Z. Berlin's newspaper being repositioned as Germany's youngest newspaper under leadership of the Axel Springer Academy, combining innovation and tradition with AI-supported local journalism and new digital formats.
• Gründerszene Startup-focused journalism platform covering the German startup ecosystem, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. Part of the PREMIUM-GRUPPE.
• ICON Luxury lifestyle magazine covering fashion, design, watches, jewelry, and travel. Published as supplement to WELT AM SONNTAG, relaunched in April 2026 with redesigned visual identity.
• POLITICO Pro Newsletter Series B2B subscription news service delivering in-depth coverage across verticals: Pro Industrie & Handel, Pro Energie & Klima, Pro Gesundheit, and Pro Technologie. Targets policymakers, executives, and advocacy leaders with reporting, analysis, and exclusive insights on German and international policy and industry.
• Bisnow B2B commercial real estate media and events platform acquired by Axel Springer in March 2026. Reaches over 1.7 million subscribers across 70+ newsletters and hosts over 400 live events annually across 47 markets in U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, and Netherlands. Generates approximately $40 million in annual revenue.
• Morning Brew Business media company delivering daily newsletters on business, finance, and tech news. Part of the Brew Media Group under Axel Springer.
• Brew Media Group Newly formed division housing Bisnow and Morning Brew Inc. under leadership of Morning Brew CEO Robert Dippell. Focuses on B2B and consumer media acquisitions, operating both brands independently while pursuing cross-brand innovation in events, newsletters, and digital products.
• Telegraph Media Group UK-based newspaper publisher acquired by Axel Springer in March 2026 for £575 million. Publishes The Daily Telegraph (171-year-old conservative newspaper), Sunday Telegraph, and telegraph.co.uk. Expansion into U.S. market planned.
• Policylead German policy monitoring platform for analyzing regulatory developments and political activities at EU, federal, and state levels. Features pioneering AI-powered topic and stakeholder monitoring capabilities.
• AUTO BILD TV (FAST Channel) 24/7 FAST streaming channel delivering linear automotive content with advertising between videos. Available via AUTO BILD Digital, BILD Mediathek, and BILD Smart-TV App.
• BILD App for Apple Vision Pro Immersive news application for Apple Vision Pro in Germany featuring lean-back cinematic video experience and electronic program guide aggregating content from BILD, AUTO BILD, and SPORT BILD.
• Media Impact Germany's largest cross-media marketing and advertising sales arm, handling advertising for Axel Springer's portfolio of media brands.
• Axel Springer Academy of Journalism & Technology Journalism training institution combining a school of journalism and employee upskilling with projects in partnership with technology companies. Operates the B.Z. newspaper editorial team.
• PREMIUM-GRUPPE Alliance of WELT-Gruppe, POLITICO Deutschland, and BUSINESS INSIDER Deutschland with over 40 million monthly users. WELT-Gruppe serves as competence center for video and debate; POLITICO and BUSINESS INSIDER Germany serve as centers for investigative political and economic reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Telegraph subscription revenues grew 18% YoY to £68.5 million in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LinkedInminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 March 2026Axel Springer included in LinkedIn's BrandLink network expansion with six new global publishers. Enables programmatic CTV ad buying through The Trade Desk and co-branded creator content partnerships.
• PolicyleadcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 February 2026POLITICO acquired 100% of Policylead, a German policy monitoring platform for regulatory developments and political activities at EU and German federal/state levels. Pioneering AI features in topic and stakeholder monitoring.
• StagwellminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026Partnership on German News Advertising Study surveying 11,282 adults. Found 81% of German adults read news, 35% are 'news junkies'. Research demonstrates brand safety of advertising in news environments.
• NFL (National Football League)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026Strategic partnership where BILD and SPORT BILD acquired video licensing content for the BILD NFL Show 'Playbook'. Includes joint marketing activities and events connecting NFL and BILD brands. Confirmed at Super Bowl LX 2026.
• Morning Brew Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBisnow joining Morning Brew under newly formed Brew Media Group division led by Morning Brew CEO Robert Dippell. Both brands operating as independent companies pursuing B2B and consumer media acquisitions.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• News Corp: Global multi-brand news and media conglomerate (Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Times of London, Dow Jones) operating with a similar diversified subscription-and-advertising model across transatlantic markets. Most direct comparable given the dual exposure to US and UK news markets.
• The New York Times Company: Subscription-first digital news leader with The New York Times, Wirecutter, and The Athletic. Compares directly on the digital subscription flywheel and B2B-content play (NYT Cooking, Games) that Axel Springer is pursuing with POLITICO Pro and Telegraph.
• Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT): UK-listed media group anchored by the Daily Mail, MailOnline, and B2B information businesses (RMS, Trepp). Direct competitor in UK national newspaper market where DMGT outbid on Telegraph; comparable mix of mass-market tabloid plus B2B information services.
• Reach plc: UK and Ireland's largest commercial news publisher (Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Daily Star, Manchester Evening News). Direct comparable in tabloid print transitioning to digital subscriptions; competes in same UK regional and national advertising markets as Telegraph.
• Guardian Media Group: Owner of The Guardian and The Observer plus international editions, plus media investment arm. Comparable as a politically-aligned, digital subscription-led national newspaper group; competes in UK readership with Telegraph and US coverage with POLITICO.
• Gannett Co. Largest US local newspaper publisher (USA Today, hundreds of local titles) pursuing digital subscription strategy. Comparable on the print-to-digital transition mechanics and subscription-first transformation playbook that Axel Springer is applying across its portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Bloomberg L.P. Global financial data, news, and B2B subscription leader (Bloomberg Terminal, Bloomberg News, Bloomberg Businessweek). Comparable in B2B subscription economics (POLITICO Pro, Morning Brew) and policy/business news vertical integration.
• Thomson Reuters: B2B information services and news conglomerate (Reuters News, Legal, Tax & Accounting). Comparable in policy/regulatory intelligence (POLITICO Pro, Policylead) and global newsroom scale across major capitals.
• RTL Group (Bertelsmann): European broadcasting and content group owned by Bertelsmann (RTL Television, M6, streaming services). Comparable as a European-headquartered transatlantic media consolidator pursuing digital transformation and ad-tech diversification.

Emerging players

• Future plc: UK-based global specialist media platform (TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Marie Claire) with strong subscription and affiliate commerce model. Comparable on the digital-first, niche-vertical subscription strategy that Axel Springer is pursuing with Gründerszene, AUTO BILD, and ICON.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/axelspringer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/axel-springer-se
• Facebookfacebook.com/AxelSpringerKarriere

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A34 records

Investments63 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Axel Springer