What echo medienhaus does

echo medienhaus ges.m.b.h. is a privately held Austrian media house headquartered in Vienna, founded in 1980 and operating under the holding company ffpg Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, which is owned by the Pöttler family (50%) and the Feistl family (50% — split between KR Anton Feistl and Toni Feistl Junior at 25% each). The group operates a diversified portfolio of print publications, digital channels, large-scale events, and book publishing, reaching over 1.5 million readers monthly and 3.5 million event visitors annually. Its core publications include the weekly Wiener Bezirksblatt (520,000+ readers), Vormagazin (174,000+ readers per issue on public transport), the lifestyle title look!, and Unsere Generation (Austria's largest baby-boomer magazine, 200,000+ readers per issue). Flagship events include the Donauinselfest (Vienna's largest open-air festival, 3+ million visitors), the Wiener Kaiser Wiesn (Austria's largest Oktoberfest-format event, 18 days, 700+ hours of live music), the Erste Bank Vienna Night Run (22,000 runners, 20+ year partnership), and the Christmas in Vienna classical gala. The company also publishes non-fiction books through its echomedia buchverlag imprint and runs two major literacy initiatives, Eine Stadt. Ein Buch. (100,000+ free books distributed annually since 2004) and the Österreichischer Vorlesetag (10,000+ events nationwide, launched 2015).

The business model is sales-led and relationship-driven, generating revenue primarily through B2B advertising sales across print and digital inventory, event sponsorship and brand activation packages, and book sales/licensing. Pricing is quote-based and individually negotiated, with no public rate cards. The company serves two primary customer segments: B2B advertisers (brands, agencies, and institutions seeking geographic and demographic reach in Vienna and Austria) and Viennese/Austrian end consumers (readers, event attendees, and participants in literacy initiatives). Distribution is omnichannel: print is distributed through Wiener Linien public transport, hotels, schools, and event venues, while digital inventory is sold across owned online portals and social media, supplemented by direct sales teams for advertising and sponsorship packages. Operations are conducted through 13 wholly-owned subsidiaries covering event management (echo event, Wiener Kaiser Wiesn, Pro Event Team, Red Carpet Event & Gastro, msm sportmedia), magazine publishing (Wien Live, vormagazin, Wiener Bezirksblatt, Very Media, Seniormedia), PR and networking (Live Relations), promotion/ambient media (Werbehelden), and unrelated lifestyle ventures (frein eleven chalet resort, Freiner Fisch organic fish farming). The technology stack is explicitly traditional rather than technology-driven, with no proprietary software, API, SDK, or AI/ML capabilities disclosed; the company's competitive position rests on physical distribution, brand equity, and event execution rather than technology differentiation.

Name

echo medienhaus

Legal name

echo medienhaus ges.m.b.h.

Website

https://echo.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Echo medienhaus is a Vienna-based private media house operating print publications, digital media, large-scale events, and book publishing, serving Viennese and Austrian consumers and B2B advertisers through integrated advertising solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Print Media & Event Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Newspaper Publishers (51311), Book Publishers (513130), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press (MPAJADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mass Market & Paperback Publishing (MPAJAAAD), Media Relations & Press Office Services (MPAAADAI)

Keywords

• Regional print media
• Magazine publishing
• Event management
• Media advertising sales
• Book publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Print Advertising: Advertising revenue from multiple print publications including Wiener Bezirksblatt (520,000+ readers), Vormagazin (174,000+ readers per issue), look! magazine, and other print titles. advertisers can target geographically through district media or thematically through specialized publications.
2. Digital Advertising: Advertising solutions on high-reach online portals and social media channels, complementing print offerings with digital reach.
3. Event Management and Sponsorship: Revenue from organizing large-scale public events including Donauinselfest (3+ million visitors), Wiener Kaiser Wiesn, Vienna Night Run, and other cultural events. Includes sponsorship opportunities and brand activation partnerships.
4. Book Publishing: House publishing imprint (echomedia buchverlag) publishes non-fiction books that convey knowledge and inspiration. Revenue from book sales and potential licensing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Echo Medienhaus is a Viennese regional media house that publishes district newspapers and thematic magazines (in print and digital), organizes large-scale public events and festivals such as the Donauinselfest and Wiener Kaiser Wiesn, and operates a book publishing imprint (echomedia buchverlag). Its commercial core is selling advertising space, sponsorships, and brand-partnership inventory across these owned media, event, and publishing assets to B2B clients seeking reach in the Austrian market.

Product overview

echo medienhaus is Vienna's leading media house operating a multi-platform portfolio of print publications, digital media, major events, and literacy initiatives. The core product suite includes print magazines (Wiener Bezirksblatt, Vormagazin, Wien Live, look!, Unsere Generation, Alles Walzer, Hallo, Very Vienna), the echomedia buchverlag book publishing house, and flagship events (Donauinselfest, Wiener Kaiser Wiesn, erste bank vienna night run, Christmas in Vienna). Literacy initiatives include the annual Österreichischer Vorlesetag and "Eine Stadt. Ein Buch." distributing 100,000 free books yearly. Supporting services include Werbehelden (promotion/ambient media), Live Relations (PR/networking), and echoevent (event organization). The company reaches 1.5+ million monthly readers across print and online, hosts 3.5+ million event visitors annually, and distributes over 150,000 free books per year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wiener Bezirksblatt: Weekly district newspaper reaching over 520,000 readers across Vienna, providing local news, stories, and tips.
• Vormagazin
• look!
• Unsere Generation
• Donauinselfest
• Wiener Kaiser Wiesn
• Christmas in Vienna
• Werbehelden
• Seniormedia

Products and services

• Wiener Bezirksblatt Weekly local newspaper reaching over 520,000 readers across Vienna, delivering local news, stories, and tips directly to neighborhoods. Used by advertisers for precise geographic district-level targeting.
• Vormagazin
• Wien Live Modern city magazine with clear thematic focuses, targeting urban, enjoyment-oriented, and high-purchasing-power audiences with high-quality content.
• look! Austria-wide lifestyle magazine for women featuring reportages, personal stories, and trends in fashion, beauty, health, and society, available in print and digital formats.
• Unsere Generation Austria's largest magazine for baby boomers and older generations, published 6 times yearly, reaching over 200,000 readers per issue with regional information.
• Alles Walzer Free magazine for the ball season featuring dance, ball culture, and a practical ball calendar in German and English, distributed at Vienna hotspots.
• Hallo First Vienna magazine for children aged 8-13, distributed twice yearly free at schools and top locations, presenting local topics in a child-friendly format.
• Love Obertauern Tourism magazine showcasing summer and winter tourism from the Obertauern region with imagery, available year-round at hotels and tourist offices.
• Very Vienna Premium magazine targeting educated, high-income, and consumption-oriented audience, presenting the best products and experiences in Austria.
• echomedia buchverlag In-house publishing house producing non-fiction books that convey knowledge and inspiration, integrated with the company's literacy initiatives.
• Donauinselfest Vienna's largest open-air festival attracting over 3 million people annually with free admission, live stages, entertainment, and community on the Danube Island.
• Wiener Kaiser Wiesn Austria's largest traditional and Oktoberfest event spanning 18 days with 700 hours of live music and over 1,900 musicians.
• Erste Bank Vienna Night Run Annual charity run on Vienna's Ringstraße with 22,000 runners covering 5 kilometers, combining sports, music, and sustainability.
• Christmas in Vienna Gala concert featuring international classical music artists at Vienna's Künstlerhaus, broadcast on TV with millions of global digital viewers.
• Österreichischer Vorlesetag (Austrian Reading Day) Annual nationwide reading initiative transforming Austria into a land of reading, with over 10,000 events bringing together schools, companies, and families.
• Eine Stadt. Ein Buch. Literacy initiative distributing 100,000 free books annually for over 20 years, with readings, conversations, and encounters making Vienna the largest reading stage in Austria.
• KinderKunstFest Austria's largest children's art festival making art actively experienceable for children free of charge in museums and cultural institutions.
• Wiener Kinderlesefest Annual children's literature festival visited by tens of thousands combining books, readings, and interactive programs, with partner publishers providing free books.
• Werbehelden Promotion, event, and ambient media agency creating impactful brand experiences and encounters for clients.
• Live Relations PR and networking services connecting people and solving communication problems through personal exchange.
• echoevent Event organization and management services for various events including Kriminacht, Rund um die Burg, Vienna Airport Business Night, and more.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Erste BankcoreOthersErste Bank is a key partner for the Vienna Night Run, which has been organized for over 20 years with the goal of raising funds for charitable causes. The event attracts 22,000 runners and represents a long-standing partnership combining sports, community engagement, and corporate social responsibility.
• Park Hyatt ViennacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to produce Park Hyatt Treasuries Magazine, an exclusive publication showcasing the luxury hotel's unique world and offerings. Also hosts the Women Power Day conference and look! Business Awards at Park Hyatt Vienna.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Donauinselfest organizer (city of Vienna / Pro Event Team) — N/A: Note: Donauinselfest is actually produced by echo medienhaus via Pro Event Team. An external peer would be Stadtwerk.Wien or large European event organizers (e.g., Live Nation, CTS Eventim) as OTHERS in the events space.

Direct peers

• Russmedia: Austrian family-owned media group (Vorarlberger Nachrichten, VOL.AT) spanning regional newspapers, digital platforms, and event businesses. Highly comparable structure to echo medienhaus as a regional Austrian media house.
• Styria Media Group: Largest privately held Austrian media conglomerate (Kleine Zeitung, Die Presse, WirtschaftsBlatt, regional titles). Closest direct competitor to echo medienhaus in scale and Austrian multi-platform publishing.
• Mediaprint (Krone, Kurier): Publisher of Austria's largest tabloid (Kronen Zeitung) and Kurier, with combined print and digital reach comparable to Echo's Wiener Bezirksblatt franchise. Direct competitor in Austrian newspaper advertising.
• RegionalMedien Austria: Austrian regional newspaper and advertising network operating 130+ titles, directly comparable to Wiener Bezirksblatt's district-level news model and to Werbehelden's promotion services.
• Verlagsgruppe News (VGN): Austrian publisher of news-magazines (NEWS, profil, trend, FORMAT). Comparable in magazine publishing, advertising sales model, and Vienna-centric audience.

Broad incumbents

• Axel Springer (now partly owned by KKR): Major German/European newspaper and digital media group (Bild, Welt). Comparable in print-to-digital transition strategy and advertising sales model, though operating at much larger scale across multiple geographies.
• ORF (Österreichischer Rundfunk): Austrian public broadcaster dominating TV, radio, and online reach. A broader incumbent with overlapping advertiser and audience relationships but not a print-publishing peer.
• Bauer Media Group: Global magazine publisher with strong vertical-audience targeting (women, lifestyle, entertainment). Directly comparable business model to look!, Unsere Generation, and Wien Live's demographic-segmented magazine approach.
• Hubert Burda Media: German-based media conglomerate with magazine and digital properties (Focus, Bunte). Comparable in lifestyle-magazine portfolio and advertiser-supported publishing model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/echo-medienhaus-gmbh.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries13 records

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 echo medienhaus