STERN
STERN is a Hamburg-based, multi-platform German news media brand (founded 1948) operating under G+J Medien GmbH/Bertelsmann. It publishes a weekly print magazine, the stern.de digital portal, podcasts, video, and a premium subscription (stern+) for German-speaking consumers seeking investigative journalism and lifestyle content.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1949
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What STERN does
STERN is a multi-platform German news media brand headquartered in Hamburg, operating since 1948/1949 under G+J Medien GmbH, a subsidiary of Gruner + Jahr within the Bertelsmann conglomerate. The company operates a German-language news portal (stern.de), a weekly print magazine, podcasts (including the investigative 'Sea Story' and true-crime 'stern Crime' series), video content, email newsletters, a dedicated product-comparison service (Kaufkosmos), and free browser-based casual games (spiele.stern.de). Its editorial coverage spans politics, society, panorama, crime, culture, health, sport, travel, family, automotive, and lifestyle, with sub-brands including the crime vertical and the bundled GEO (nature/travel) and Capital (business/finance) magazines.
The business runs a hybrid model combining advertising-supported free content with a freemium premium subscription tier called stern+. The stern+ subscription provides access to exclusive investigative journalism, audio stories, and bundled premium content from GEO and Capital, priced at €1 for a 4-week introductory trial that converts to €2.99/week. Distribution is omnichannel: the website and mobile app serve as the primary direct-to-consumer surface, with additional reach via social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp), podcasts, newsletters, events, and earned media. Print magazine subscriptions are sold through the Abo shop.
STERN's audience is the German-speaking general consumer interested in credible, in-depth journalism and lifestyle content. The company has no disclosed funding rounds, AI/ML capabilities, or M&A activity; it is operated as a strategic brand asset within the Bertelsmann-owned Gruner + Jahr publishing group, leveraging parent-group scale for cross-brand bundling and operational resources.
STERN firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- STERN
- Legal name
- G+J Medien GmbH
- Website
- https://stern.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1949
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- STERN is a Hamburg-based, multi-platform German news media brand (founded 1948) operating under G+J Medien GmbH/Bertelsmann. It publishes a weekly print magazine, the stern.de digital portal, podcasts, video, and a premium subscription (stern+) for German-speaking consumers seeking investigative journalism and lifestyle content.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
STERN industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital News Media
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120), Newspaper Publishers (51311)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)
Keywords
Where STERN is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
STERN business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Digital subscription (stern+): STERN operates a freemium model with a premium subscription tier called stern+. The stern+ subscription provides access to exclusive in-depth stories, premium content from GEO and Capital, audio stories, and the full archive. The publication is largely advertiser-supported for free content, while the subscription generates recurring revenue from paying members.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Weekly | stern+ introductory trial — 4 weeks for 1€ |
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
STERN product offering
Product offeringCore offering
STERN is a German news media company that publishes a weekly print magazine, a multi-section digital news portal (stern.de), and premium subscription content (stern+). It produces original journalism across politics, society, economy, culture, health, lifestyle, sports, and travel, delivered through articles, podcasts, video, newsletters, and casual online games.
Product overview
STERN operates primarily as a multi-platform German news media company offering a comprehensive digital news portal (stern.de), premium subscription service (stern+), print magazine, podcasts, videos, and branded content verticals including GEO (nature/travel) and Capital (business/finance). The portfolio also includes a product comparison service (Kaufkosmos) and free browser-based casual games. The company is part of G+J Medien GmbH and positions itself as a leading German news brand delivering journalism across society, politics, culture, health, sport, and lifestyle.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- stern+: Subscription service offering exclusive content from STERN, GEO, and Capital publications.
- spiele.stern.de
Products and services
- stern.de digital news portal German-language online news portal providing news, background reports, and investigative journalism across society, politics, panorama, health, culture, sport, travel, economy, family, and lifestyle topics for general adult readers.
- stern+ premium subscription Paid subscription offering exclusive access to in-depth articles, premium GEO and Capital content, audio stories, and the full archive for German-speaking readers.
- stern Print Magazine Weekly print magazine covering news, society, politics, and cultural topics, available by subscription and newsstand purchase.
- stern Podcasts Original podcast series including investigative storytelling (Sea Story), true-crime (stern Crime), interviews (stern-Gespräche), and feature programming (stern Stunde), distributed via streaming platforms.
- stern Video Video content including news clips, documentaries, and visual storytelling published across STERN's digital channels.
- spiele.stern.de online games Free browser-based casual games including Solitaire, Sudoku, Mahjong, Snake, Bubble Shooter, and Exchange with highscore tracking and multiple difficulty levels.
- stern Crime content vertical Dedicated crime journalism vertical offering true-crime stories, investigations, and case reports, including the stern Crime podcast series.
- stern Kaufkosmos Product testing and deal comparison service offering independent reviews and buying guides for consumer products including electronics, household items, and lifestyle goods.
Companies that use STERN
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
STERN technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
STERN partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
STERN competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Der Spiegel: Germany's flagship weekly news magazine, directly competing with STERN across politics, society, and investigative journalism. Both operate paid digital subscription products (Spiegel+) and broad multi-platform newsrooms in German.
- Bild: Germany's largest tabloid and news brand, operated by Axel Springer. Bild+ subscription competes directly with stern+ for mass-market paying news consumers in Germany.
- Die Welt / Welt+: Axel Springer's broadsheet daily with a paid Welt+ subscription tier. Directly competes with STERN for paying German-speaking news consumers across politics, business, and lifestyle.
- Focus: Burda's weekly news magazine and digital portal, directly comparable to STERN as a German weekly covering politics, society, and lifestyle. Both target broad German-speaking audiences with magazine-style journalism.
- Die Zeit: Renowned German weekly newspaper with a strong digital subscription model (Zeit+). Comparable to STERN in audience, weekly cadence, and premium journalism positioning, though with a more literary orientation.
- Süddeutsche Zeitung: Germany's largest broadsheet daily with a paid digital subscription (SZ Plus). Directly competes with stern.de for paying readers in German investigative and political journalism.
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ): Prestigious German daily with FAZ+ digital subscription. Overlaps with STERN's business and political coverage and competes for high-income, engaged German readers.
- Handelsblatt: Germany's leading business daily with a paid Handelsblatt subscription. Directly comparable through Capital (STERN's business sub-brand) on financial and economic journalism for German readers.
Emerging players
- t-online.de: One of Germany's most-visited general news portals, owned by Ströer. Competes with stern.de for ad-supported reach and broad-news audiences, though with a different distribution model (portal vs. magazine).
Broad incumbents
- n-tv: RTL Germany's 24-hour news channel and portal, offering competing news, business, and lifestyle content to stern.de. Overlaps on general news, capital-markets coverage, and lifestyle verticals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
STERN social profiles
Digital presenceSTERN financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
STERN leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
STERN funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
STERN 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 STERN
What does STERN do?
STERN is a German news media company that publishes a weekly print magazine, a multi-section digital news portal (stern.de), and premium subscription content (stern+). It produces original journalism across politics, society, economy, culture, health, lifestyle, sports, and travel, delivered through articles, podcasts, video, newsletters, and casual online games.
Is STERN a public or private company?
STERN is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was STERN founded?
STERN was founded in 1949. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is STERN based?
STERN is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does STERN make money?
One revenue line is on record: digital subscription (stern+).
Who are STERN's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Der Spiegel, Bild, Die Welt / Welt+, Focus, Die Zeit, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) and Handelsblatt. t-online.de is listed as an emerging player. n-tv is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does STERN have an API?
No public API is recorded for STERN.
What industry is STERN in?
STERN's product category is Digital News Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAO, News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines. Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.