What Volksstimme.de does

Volksstimme.de operates the digital subscription service of Volksstimme, a regional newspaper founded in 1890 and headquartered in Magdeburg, Germany, under the legal entity Mitteldeutsche Verlags- und Druckhaus GmbH. It serves consumers across 22+ cities and municipalities in the Sachsen-Anhalt region, with product coverage spanning the printed Volksstimme, a flagship E-Paper, the Volksstimme+ premium content tier, a unified mobile application (iOS/Android), live regional sports streaming (notably 1. FC Magdeburg test matches, SC Magdeburg handball, Oberliga football), podcasts (e.g., 'Verbrechen in Mitteldeutschland', 'Wahllokal'), video content, and the jointly-produced children's newspaper Planet Pusteblume.

The underlying technology stack is a multi-channel content platform: a web-based reader and mobile applications consolidating E-Paper, real-time news, podcasts, video, puzzles, and live sports streaming; an E-Paper reader with accessibility features (audio playback, dark mode, adjustable fonts, bookmarks, archive); and live streaming infrastructure for regional sports. The platform is operated as part of the Bauer Media Group portfolio, with shared technology infrastructure and syndication of Bauer lifestyle digital magazines into the Volksstimme app, and a content co-production partnership with Mitteldeutsche Zeitung.

The business model is exclusively subscription-based recurring revenue across multiple tiers: free 4-week and 7-day trials with conversion to paid; an introductory digital subscription at €2.00 in month one then €4.90/month; Volksstimme+ at €9.96/month or €89.00/year; a standalone live sports streaming subscription at €9.96/month (bundled free for digital subscribers); a student subscription at €23.00/month with valid ID; single 24-hour editions at €3.49; and premium hardware-bundled plans pairing a tablet with print or digital access at €29.95–€45.05/month on a 24-month minimum contract. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the abo.volksstimme.de web shop, iOS and Android app stores, print home delivery across Sachsen-Anhalt, and physical service points. The company has no disclosed funding, no public AI/ML capabilities, and no disclosed revenue.

Name

Volksstimme.de

Legal name

Mitteldeutsche Verlags- und Druckhaus GmbH

Website

https://volksstimme.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Volksstimme.de operates the digital subscription service of Volksstimme, a 134-year-old regional newspaper serving readers across 22+ cities in Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, with E-Paper, mobile apps, Volksstimme+ premium content, live regional sports streaming, podcasts, and a children's newspaper.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Newspaper Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

eBook & Digital Reading Platforms (BPAMAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports OTT Aggregators & Bundling Services (MPAKAOAB), Blogging & Website Publishing Platforms (MPACAIAB)

Keywords

• Regional newspaper publishing
• Digital news subscriptions
• E-paper delivery
• Live sports streaming
• Local journalism

Headquarters

HQ city

Magdeburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Digital Newspaper Subscription: Monthly subscription for digital E-Paper access including all online content with Volksstimme+
2. Print Newspaper Subscription: Home delivery of printed newspaper with optional digital add-on
3. Volksstimme+ Premium Content: Paid premium articles, reports, analyses, and exclusive content on volksstimme.de
4. Live Sports Streaming Subscription: Monthly subscription for regional sports streaming including FCM test matches, handball, basketball, and amateur football
5. Student Subscription: Discounted digital subscription for verified students with immatriculation certificate
6. Premium Tablet Bundles: Combined print/digital subscription with tablet device over 24-month minimum contract

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Volksstimme.de is the digital publishing platform of the regional Volksstimme newspaper, offering a printed daily newspaper, a digital E-Paper accessible via web and mobile apps, a unified Volksstimme App that bundles real-time news with podcasts and videos, live regional sports streaming (including 1. FC Magdeburg test matches), and the Planet Pusteblume digital children's newspaper. The portfolio is sold primarily through subscription tiers with freemium trial periods and targets readers in the Sachsen-Anhalt region of Germany.

Product overview

Volksstimme.de is a regional newspaper publisher based in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, offering a multi-platform portfolio consisting of its core print and digital newspaper products. The main offering is the Volksstimme E-Paper (digitale Zeitung), which provides the newspaper content in classic or modern article view with accessibility features. This is enhanced by Volksstimme+, a premium subscription unlocking exclusive content. The Volksstimme App serves as the unified mobile interface combining E-Paper access, real-time news, podcasts, videos, and the Planet Pusteblume children's newspaper. Sport streaming delivers live regional football and sports content. The portfolio includes regional print editions, student discounts, and single-issue purchases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Volksstimme+: Premium subscription service for exclusive news content on volksstimme.de
• Planet Pusteblume
• Sportstadt Magdeburg
• E-Paper

Products and services

• Volksstimme E-Paper (Digitale Zeitung) Digital version of the Volksstimme newspaper presented in either classic newspaper layout or modern article view, with audio playback, adjustable font sizes, dark mode, bookmarks, and archive access. Target users are paid subscribers in Sachsen-Anhalt who want anytime access to the regional newspaper on web and mobile.
• Volksstimme App Mobile application for iOS and Android combining the E-Paper with real-time news from volksstimme.de, podcasts, videos, puzzles, magazine access, live sports streaming, and Planet Pusteblume children's content. It is intended for digital-first subscribers who want all Volksstimme content on a single mobile platform.
• Gedruckte Volksstimme (Print Newspaper) Traditional printed daily newspaper delivered by home delivery throughout the Volksstimme coverage area in Sachsen-Anhalt, with various regional editions (Burg, Magdeburg, Salzwedel, and others). The product is intended for readers in the region who prefer physical printed news.
• Volksstimme Sport-Streaming Live streaming service broadcasting regional football and sports events, including 1. FC Magdeburg test matches, FCM II matches, Fortuna Magdeburg, Oberliga games, cup competitions, women's football, handball, and basketball. It targets local sports fans seeking exclusive coverage of regional teams.
• Planet Pusteblume Digital children's newspaper for ages 6-12 featuring regional, German, and world news in a child-friendly format with interactive puzzles, jointly produced by Volksstimme and Mitteldeutsche Zeitung. It is intended for families in Sachsen-Anhalt wanting age-appropriate local news content.
• Podcast-Angebot (Verbrechen in Mitteldeutschland and Wahllokal) Audio podcast content including the true crime podcast 'Verbrechen in Mitteldeutschland' and the regional politics podcast 'Wahllokal', distributed through the Volksstimme app and web platform. It targets Volksstimme subscribers interested in regional storytelling and politics beyond written news.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mitteldeutsche ZeitungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership with Mitteldeutsche Zeitung for digital children's newspaper 'Planet Pusteblume'. Joint streaming coverage of regional sports events including FCM and Hallescher FC matches, FSA Youth Cup finals.
• Bauer Media GroupminorOthersPart of Bauer Media Group portfolio, utilizing shared technology infrastructure and content syndication for lifestyle magazines. Digital magazines from Bauer available in Volksstimme app.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bild (Axel Springer): Germany's largest national tabloid with a paid digital subscription model (BildPlus). Competes for the same consumer news subscription dollars, especially among price-sensitive regional readers who may opt for national digital news.
• MDR Sachsen-Anhalt: Public broadcaster covering Sachsen-Anhalt with free regional news, video, and audio. Competes for the same regional audience's attention and ad/subscription wallet but is publicly funded and free to consumers.
• Welt (Axel Springer): National German quality daily with paid WeltPlus subscription. Comparable digital subscription + premium content model and competes for German digital news subscribers including those in Sachsen-Anhalt.
• Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: National German quality daily with F.A.Z. Plus digital subscription. Comparable premium digital subscription + E-Paper + app stack targeting engaged news consumers.
• Süddeutsche Zeitung: Germany's largest quality national daily with the SZ Plus digital subscription model. Comparable in combining print, E-Paper, premium digital content, podcasts, and apps under a subscription framework.

Direct peers

• NOZ Medien (Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung): Independent regional German daily group with E-Paper, digital subscription, app, and podcast products. Closely comparable in combining print + digital + multi-format content for a regional German audience.
• Madsack Mediengruppe (Hannoversche Allgemeine): Regional newspaper group operating titles like HAZ in Lower Saxony under a comparable E-Paper + digital subscription + app model. Directly comparable in structure, audience profile, and subscription pricing logic.
• Leipziger Volkszeitung: Regional newspaper serving Leipzig and surrounding Saxony/Sachsen-Anhalt areas. Closely comparable business model combining print home delivery, E-Paper, and digital subscription tiers for a similar German regional audience.
• Mitteldeutsche Zeitung: Fellow regional German daily covering Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony from Halle. Directly comparable as a regional print+digital newspaper serving overlapping Sachsen-Anhalt readership, and is also Volksstimme's Planet Pusteblume co-production partner.

Regional players

• Berliner Morgenpost: Funke Mediengruppe's regional Berlin-Brandenburg daily with digital subscription and E-Paper. Comparable regional daily + digital subscription model serving a single German metropolitan region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/volksstimme
• Facebookfacebook.com/volksstimme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mediengruppe-magdeburg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Volksstimme.de