WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING
Munich-based German media publisher producing technology and photography magazines and digital platforms, including CHIP, connect, Digital Photo, and PCgo. Acquired by Five Monkeys Media in October 2025, it serves German-speaking consumers and professionals as part of the broader Five Monkeys Group portfolio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersMunich, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING does
WEKA Media Publishing is a Munich-based German media company founded in 1998 that produces technology and photography content delivered across print magazines, digital properties, e-papers, mobile applications, and live events. Its title portfolio includes several established German-language brands: CHIP and PCgo in consumer technology, connect in mobile and telecommunications, Digital Photo, DOCMA, FotoHits, Photo Weekly, photoscala, and PP Photo Presse in photography and imaging, and Audio stereoplay in home audio. The company also operated the fotocommunity photography community platform prior to its transfer to Five Monkeys Media in May 2025. The customer base is horizontally segmented, serving general consumers and professionals interested in technology, imaging, and publishing across German-speaking markets. Revenue mechanics traditionally combine magazine circulation and subscriptions, advertising sales, digital advertising on owned properties, community monetization, and event-related income.
On October 2, 2025, WEKA Media Publishing was acquired by Five Monkeys Media GmbH, a younger Frankfurt/Oder-based media group founded in spring 2024 that is pursuing a roll-up of established German specialty-publishing brands. The transaction brings the WEKA title portfolio alongside falkemedia-partnered DigitalPHOTO and Mac Life titles under a single group that also operates Test Lab product review services and the connect conference. Five Monkeys had previously poached subscription expert Michael Zgolik from Hubert Burda Media, indicating a deliberate pivot toward subscription-led monetization across the enlarged portfolio. Post-acquisition, WEKA's operating activities, distribution, and marketing are integrated into the Five Monkeys Group structure, and the combined entity positions itself as a multi-brand, multi-channel German specialty publisher rather than a single-title operator.
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING
- Legal name
- WEKA Media Publishing
- Website
- https://weka-media-publishing.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Munich-based German media publisher producing technology and photography magazines and digital platforms, including CHIP, connect, Digital Photo, and PCgo. Acquired by Five Monkeys Media in October 2025, it serves German-speaking consumers and professionals as part of the broader Five Monkeys Group portfolio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Technology Media Publishing
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), All Other Publishers (513199)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Magazine & Newspaper Subscription Platforms (Paywalls, Membership) (MPAJAMAD), Publishing Networks & Multi-Author Publications (MPACAIAG), Community-Integrated Publishing Platforms (MPACAIAI)
Keywords
Where WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Munich
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WEKA Media Publishing produces and distributes German-language technology, telecommunications, photography, audio, and consumer electronics magazines in both print and digital form. Its portfolio includes established titles such as CHIP, connect, Digital Photo, PCgo, Audio stereoplay, DOCMA, Smart Weekly, FotoHits, Photo Weekly, photoscala, and PP Photo Presse, alongside community platforms such as fotocommunity. Content is sold via subscriptions, single-copy sales, and advertising, with audiences ranging from general consumers to professional readers in Germany.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CHIP: Technology magazine brand covering tech news, tests, and reviews
- connect
- Digital Photo
- PCgo
- Audio stereoplay
- DOCMA
- Smart Weekly
- fotocommunity
- FotoHits
- Photo Weekly
- photoscala
- PP Photo Presse
Products and services
- CHIP magazine Technology magazine covering tech news, product tests, and reviews for German-speaking consumer and professional audiences, distributed in print, e-Paper, and online editions.
- connect magazine Magazine focusing on mobile devices, connectivity, and telecommunications technology for German-speaking readers.
- Digital Photo magazine Magazine covering digital photography techniques, equipment reviews, and imaging workflows for hobbyists and professional photographers.
- PCgo magazine Magazine covering personal computer hardware, software, and broader consumer technology topics for PC users in Germany.
- Audio stereoplay magazine Magazine covering audio equipment, hi-fi hardware, and home entertainment products for German-speaking consumers.
- DOCMA magazine Magazine dedicated to digital photo editing, post-processing workflows, and image manipulation techniques.
- Smart Weekly Weekly technology publication providing timely coverage of consumer electronics and digital trends.
- fotocommunity platform Online community platform for photography enthusiasts to share images, comment, and engage with other photographers.
- FotoHits magazine Photography magazine focused on photo trends, techniques, and equipment for German-speaking readers.
- Photo Weekly Weekly photography publication providing regular coverage of photography news, techniques, and imagery.
- photoscala magazine Magazine covering the photography industry, including professional imaging, market developments, and industry events.
- PP Photo Presse Photography press publication covering news, trends, and developments in the German photography market.
Companies that use WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Five Monkeys MediacoreFive Monkeys Media acquired WEKA Media Publishing on October 2, 2025. This acquisition brought WEKA's portfolio under the Five Monkeys Group umbrella, expanding the group's magazine brand portfolio to include additional titles. WEKA Media Publishing became part of Five Monkeys Group's media holdings alongside brands like CHIP, connect, and others.
- fotocommunitycoreFive Monkeys Media acquired the fotocommunity platform from WEKA as part of its expansion strategy. The fotocommunity is a photography community platform that was part of WEKA Media Publishing's digital assets before being transferred to Five Monkeys Media in May 2025.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hubert Burda Media: Largest privately held media conglomerate in Germany, publishing consumer magazines (Focus, Bunte, Chip variants historically) across multiple verticals. Comparable as a multi-brand German consumer magazine publisher with overlapping tech and lifestyle audiences, but operates at a vastly larger scale across many verticals beyond WEKA's focus.
- Axel Springer SE: One of Germany's largest digital and print media companies (Bild, Welt, Business Insider, Politico Europe). Comparable as a major German-language media publisher transitioning from print to digital subscriptions, though Axel Springer is far larger and operates news/politics verticals rather than tech/photography enthusiast content.
- Funke Mediengruppe: Major German regional newspaper and magazine publisher with titles across lifestyle, women's, and entertainment segments. Comparable as a multi-brand German consumer magazine publisher managing print-to-digital transitions in the same structural market.
- Bauer Media Group: Global magazine publisher headquartered in Hamburg with consumer titles across tech, lifestyle, and entertainment. Comparable as a multi-brand consumer magazine publisher with similar ad-supported and subscription revenue mechanics, though operates across many more countries than WEKA.
- Gruner + Jahr (RTL Group): Major Hamburg-based magazine publisher (Stern, Geo, Brigitte, Schöner Wohnen) owned by RTL Group. Comparable as a legacy multi-brand German consumer magazine publisher navigating the same print-to-digital transition as WEKA.
Direct peers
- Heise Medien: German tech publisher operating c't, iX, Technology Review (DE), Make Magazine, and heise online — the closest direct competitor to WEKA's CHIP and connect titles. Directly competes for the same German tech enthusiast audience via print magazines and digital platforms, making it the most comparable peer.
- IDG (International Data Group) / IDG Communications: Global technology media company (Computerworld, PCWorld, Macworld, CIO). Comparable as a multi-title tech magazine publisher serving enthusiast and professional audiences with similar ad-supported and subscription models to CHIP, connect, and PCgo.
Emerging players
- Future plc: UK-based global multi-brand consumer media company (TechRadar, Tom's Guide, GamesRadar+, photography titles). Comparable as a multi-brand tech and enthusiast publisher that has aggressively executed a digital subscription and e-commerce monetization playbook — a strategic reference point for WEKA's subscription pivot.
Regional players
- falkemedia Gruppe: German independent magazine publisher of DigitalPHOTO, Mac Life, and other tech/lifestyle titles. Already a strategic partner of Five Monkeys Media (announced November 2024), making it a directly comparable peer in the German photography and Apple-enthusiast magazine space.
Others
- Condé Nast: Global premium magazine publisher (Vogue, GQ, Wired, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker). Comparable as a multi-brand enthusiast and lifestyle magazine publisher evolving toward digital subscriptions and events, though focused on premium fashion/culture verticals rather than tech/photography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING social profiles
Digital presenceWEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING
What does WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING do?
WEKA Media Publishing produces and distributes German-language technology, telecommunications, photography, audio, and consumer electronics magazines in both print and digital form. Its portfolio includes established titles such as CHIP, connect, Digital Photo, PCgo, Audio stereoplay, DOCMA, Smart Weekly, FotoHits, Photo Weekly, photoscala, and PP Photo Presse, alongside community platforms such as fotocommunity. Content is sold via subscriptions, single-copy sales, and advertising, with audiences ranging from general consumers to professional readers in Germany.
Is WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING a public or private company?
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING founded?
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING based?
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING is headquartered in Munich, Germany, in the Europe region.
Who are WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hubert Burda Media, Axel Springer SE, Funke Mediengruppe, Bauer Media Group and Gruner + Jahr (RTL Group). Direct peers are Heise Medien and IDG (International Data Group) / IDG Communications. Future plc is listed as an emerging player. falkemedia Gruppe is listed as a regional player. Condé Nast is listed as an others.
Does WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING have an API?
No public API is recorded for WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING.
What industry is WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING in?
WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING's product category is Consumer Technology Media Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAO, News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines, with a secondary code of MPAJAMAD, Digital Magazine & Newspaper Subscription Platforms (Paywalls, Membership). Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.