mediaschneider

What mediaschneider does

Mediaschneider AG is a privately held, family-owned independent media agency founded in 2001 by Urs Schneider in Zurich, Switzerland. The firm offers full-service media planning and buying across classical and digital channels — TV, out-of-home (including programmatic digital OOH), display/video/audio, social media, search (SEA/SEO), print, radio and cinema — serving Swiss enterprise and mid-market advertisers in insurance, telecommunications, retail, real estate, food & beverage, aviation and other verticals. Documented clients include Swisscom, Helsana, Die Mobiliar, Lidl Schweiz, Starbucks, newhome, local.ch, Dieci, Edelweiss Air and Beyer Juwelier, with a reported active client base of more than 60 accounts, six-year average client retention and a longest relationship of 22 years.

The agency operates through specialized channel teams (Search, DVA Display/Video/Audio, Social Media, TV, OOH) supported by an in-house Data Warehouse for multi-source campaign reporting and the proprietary Mediaschneider Navigator framework, introduced in 2023 to standardize media-strategy consulting. The technology stack is anchored by third-party platforms — Google Marketing Platform (DV360, Google Ads), Meta (with official Business Partner status), Snap Inc., Teads, Goldbach Neo and APG|SGA for OOH — rather than proprietary ad-tech. The group structure comprises Mediaschneider Zurich (HQ, Nüschelerstrasse 44), Mediaschneider Bern AG (majority owned since 2011), TW Media in Basel (stake since 2007) and the digital subsidiary Hoy (founded 2016, winner of IAB Switzerland Digital Agency of the Year 2019).

Revenue is generated from commissions and service fees on media-buying volume handled (transaction-fee model) plus professional-services revenue from consulting and strategy engagements. The Mediaschneider Gruppe cleared 300 million CHF in gross media purchasing volume by 2013, holds the #1 position in purchasing volume for the Gruppe and ranked #2 in the COMvergence New Business Ranking 2024 (behind Omnicom Media Group), with a 17% Swiss media-agency market share as of 2022. The company is led by CEO Moritz Schneider (since January 1, 2022), with Urs Schneider as owner and Chairman of the Board.

Name

mediaschneider

Legal name

Mediaschneider AG

Website

https://mediaschneider.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mediaschneider is an independent, family-owned Swiss media agency founded in 2001 in Zurich, providing full-service media planning and buying across TV, OOH, digital, social, search, print, radio and cinema. It serves more than 60 enterprise and mid-market advertisers in Switzerland, including Swisscom, Helsana, Lidl and Mobiliar, through specialized channel teams and the Hoy digital subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Agency Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (54183), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Media Planning & Buying (MPAAABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Media Planning, Buying & Optimization (BPAFAAAC), Paid Social Media Buying (MPAAABAD)

Keywords

• Media planning services
• Media buying agency
• Programmatic advertising
• Cross-media campaigns
• Brand safety solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Media Buying Services: Mediaschneider purchases media inventory (TV, OOH, Digital, Print, Radio, Cinema, Social) at scale and resells to clients, generating revenue through commissions and service fees based on media volume handled.
2. Consulting and Strategy Services: Revenue from strategic consulting, media planning, campaign optimization, and professional services for clients.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mediaschneider is an independent Swiss media agency offering integrated, customized media planning and buying services across all classical and digital channels (TV, Out of Home, Display/Video/Audio, Social Media, Search, Print, Radio, Cinema). The agency provides strategy consulting, media buying, data science, ad operations, brand safety, and SEA/SEO services delivered by specialized channel teams, with a digital technology subsidiary called Hoy handling programmatic advertising and analytics.

Product overview

Mediaschneider is a leading independent Swiss media agency offering comprehensive full-service media planning and buying. The company provides integrated, customized media concepts across all classical and digital channels including TV, Out of Home, Display/Video/Audio, Social Media, Search (SEA/SEO), Print, Radio, and Cinema. The service portfolio includes Strategy consulting, Media Buying, Data Science, Ad Operations, Brand Safety, and Search services, supported by specialized teams for Display/Video/Audio (DVA), Search, and Social Media. The company operates through the Mediaschneider Navigator framework for standardized strategy development and offers integrated reporting through a proprietary Data Warehouse. A technology subsidiary called Hoy handles digital specializations including programmatic advertising and SEO. Notable client campaigns documented in case studies include Helsana's dynamic DOOH campaigns, newhome's SEO and Google Performance Max campaigns, Mobiliar's crossmedia campaigns, Starbucks' drive-to-store initiatives, and Dieci's multi-channel marketing optimization. The agency has approximately 50 employees in Zürich, serves over 60 active clients, and maintains an average client retention of 6 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mediaschneider Navigator: Proprietary framework for developing media strategies, created in 2023 to ensure consistent high-quality media strategy and consulting across all advisory groups.

Products and services

• Strategy Consulting
• Media Buying
• Data Science
• Ad Operations

Quantifiable outcome

• 300% revenue increase for Dieci vs 50% industry growth
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HoycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Technology agency founded within Mediaschneider Gruppe in 2016, specializing in programmatic advertising, data & analytics, ad operations, SEA, SEO, and social media. Led by Philipp Semmler and Moritz Schneider. Started with 8 employees and has grown to become an award-winning digital agency (Digital Agency of the Year 2019).
• Mediaschneider Bern AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Originally Media Plus AG in Bern, acquired with majority stake in 2011. Renamed to Mediaschneider Bern AG. Provides local media agency services in the Bern region as part of the group structure.
• Plan Net / Serviceplan GruppeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Mutual participation established in 2011 with Plan Net of Serviceplan Gruppe in Munich. Goal was joint development of online competencies and cooperation in serving international clients.
• TW Media (formerly The Whole Media)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007The Whole Media in Basel, participation acquired in 2007. Renamed to TW Media. Provides media agency services in Basel region as part of Mediaschneider Gruppe.
• Goldbach NeocoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for DOOH advertising. Used for programmatic DOOH campaign with Helsana. Provides programmatic technology and digital out-of-home inventory.
• Vistar MediacoreTechnology or IntegrationDemand-side platform provider for automated control and optimization of dynamic DOOH campaigns. Partnered with Mediaschneider for Helsana programmatic DOOH campaign.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing Google Analytics, Google Marketing Platform (DV360), Google Ads, YouTube, and other advertising platforms used for client campaigns.
• Meta (Facebook/Instagram)coreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Business Partner of Meta, providing direct access to beta tests and new features for social media advertising campaigns.
• Snap Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationSnapchat as advertising platform partner. Mediaschneider has dedicated social media team with expertise in Snapchat AR advertising and direct platform relationships.
• WEBKINDER AGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite development and implementation partner responsible for Mediaschneider website conception and execution.
• TeadscoreTechnology or IntegrationInRead Social advertising platform partner used for Wingo campaign. Enables social media campaign extension to websites outside social media platforms.
• Google Display & Video 360coreTechnology or IntegrationUnified Media Activation platform used for newhome brand awareness campaigns achieving 24% reach increase.
• APG|SGAcoreTechnology or IntegrationSwiss outdoor advertising company. Partnered for Sanitas programmatic DOOH campaign and other out-of-home advertising initiatives.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mindshare: Global media agency network (WPP/GroupM) with Swiss operations. Direct competitor in the Swiss media planning and buying market and ranked ahead of Mediaschneider Zürich in the COMvergence New Business Ranking 2024 (single agency).
• Mediatonic: Swiss media agency ranked alongside Mediaschneider in the RECMA Agenturranking Top 3 (2021). Comparable as a Swiss-headquartered media agency competing for the same mid-market and enterprise clients.
• PHD: Global media agency network (Omnicom) with Swiss operations. Direct competitor ranked #1 in the COMvergence New Business Ranking 2024 (single agency), competing for the same enterprise clients and cross-channel media budgets.
• Havas Media: Global media agency network with Swiss operations, also part of the RECMA Top 3 alongside Mediaschneider and Mediatonic in 2021. Comparable in offering full-service media planning and buying to Swiss enterprise advertisers.

Broad incumbents

• Zenith: Global media agency network (Publicis Media) with established Swiss operations. Overlaps with Mediaschneider on integrated media planning and buying for multinational and Swiss enterprise clients.
• GroupM: World's largest media investment group (WPP), parent of Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, and mSix&Partners. Competes head-to-head with Mediaschneider in the Swiss market and ranked #1 in Swiss sales volume ahead of Mediaschneider in 2020.
• Dentsu: Global advertising holding company with media agency brands (Dentsu Media, Carat, iProspect). Competes in the Swiss market with cross-channel media buying capabilities that overlap with Mediaschneider's full-service offering.
• Publicis Media: Global media network within Publicis Groupe (Zenith, Starcom, Spark Foundry). Competes for the same Swiss enterprise media budgets and ranked behind Mediaschneider Gruppe in the COMvergence 2024 group ranking.
• Omnicom Media Group: Holding-company media services arm (OMG) including PHD, OMD, Hearts & Science. Ranked #1 in COMvergence New Business Ranking 2024 (group), ahead of Mediaschneider Gruppe, and a major Swiss market incumbent.

Others

• Plan.Net (Serviceplan Group): Digital agency within Serviceplan Group in Munich, with whom Mediaschneider established a mutual participation in 2011 to jointly build online competencies and serve international clients. Comparable as a European independent agency and existing partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mediaschneider

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries3 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 mediaschneider