Allgemeine Zeitung

What Allgemeine Zeitung does

Allgemeine Zeitung is a regional daily newspaper publisher operating under Verlag J. Fleißig GmbH & Co. KG, a family-owned limited partnership headquartered in Coesfeld, Germany. The company serves local communities in the Coesfeld region of North Rhine-Westphalia, including Coesfeld, Billerbeck, Gescher, Rosendahl, and the broader Kreis Coesfeld area through three local editions: the core Allgemeine Zeitung, Billerbecker Anzeiger, and Gescherer Zeitung. Its primary customers are local residents seeking hyperlocal news, sports coverage, community information, and regional/national news, supplemented by local small and medium businesses that purchase print and digital advertising.

The company operates a multi-channel distribution model combining physical newspaper delivery (carrier-based in urban areas with 6:00 AM delivery, postal delivery for rural/out-of-area subscribers) with digital content distribution via its ePAPER platform, accessible through iOS/Android mobile apps and web browsers. The ePAPER provides a 1:1 digital reproduction of the printed editions with access to a 4-week archive. Supporting technology infrastructure is managed by Aschendorff Digital, with Sourcepoint handling GDPR-compliant consent management and Google Analytics/INFOnline providing web analytics.

Revenue is generated through five primary streams: print newspaper subscriptions (€43.40-€46.80/month), digital ePAPER subscriptions (€35.90/month), single copy sales, advertising (display, classifieds, corporate), and ancillary services such as vacation mail forwarding. The company employs pricing tiering including freemium trial periods, ePAPER Zusatzabo add-ons for print subscribers, and ePAPER + Tablet bundles (Samsung, Apple, Lenovo) with a 24-month minimum commitment. Additional digital offerings include the Junge Szene youth content section, the Klasse school engagement program, and a classifieds/jobs portal. The company operates under the Zeitungs Gruppe Münster media group network and is managed by authorized directors Marc Zahlmann and Dennis Hagen.

Name

Allgemeine Zeitung

Legal name

Verlag J. Fleißig GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://azonline.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Allgemeine Zeitung is a family-owned regional daily newspaper publisher in Coesfeld, Germany, serving local communities in the Münsterland region through three local editions (Allgemeine Zeitung, Billerbecker Anzeiger, Gescherer Zeitung) via print subscriptions and an ePAPER digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Newspaper Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (513110)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)

Keywords

• Regional newspaper publishing
• Local daily news
• Digital newspaper subscription
• Newspaper advertising
• EPaper digital edition

Headquarters

HQ city

Coesfeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Print Newspaper Subscriptions: Recurring monthly subscription revenue from printed newspaper delivery. Includes classic Abo (home delivery), gift subscriptions, and trial subscriptions. Delivered via carrier or postal service.
2. Digital ePAPER Subscriptions: Monthly subscription revenue from digital newspaper access via apps and web platform. Includes ePAPER only, ePAPER Zusatzabo (add-on for print subscribers), and bundled ePAPER + Tablet packages.
3. Single Copy Sales: Individual newspaper sales at 2.50 EUR (Monday-Thursday) and 3.00 EUR (Friday-Saturday) plus 0.95 EUR shipping for domestic delivery.
4. Advertising: Revenue from print and online advertising. Includes display ads, classifieds (Markt am Dienstag Kleinanzeigen), and corporate advertising packages. Dedicated sales team for business customers.
5. Vacation Services: Reisensendung (vacation mail forwarding) service at 0.95 EUR per day for domestic delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Allgemeine Zeitung is a regional daily newspaper publisher based in Coesfeld, Germany, offering print and digital newspaper subscriptions across three local editions (Allgemeine Zeitung, Billerbecker Anzeiger, and Gescherer Zeitung). The core offering includes home-delivered print newspapers delivered by 6:00 AM, a 1:1 digital ePAPER replica accessible via mobile apps and web, and local advertising services targeting the Coesfeld, Billerbeck, Gescher, and Rosendahl communities. The newspaper covers local news, regional and national politics, sports (including Bundesliga and local teams), culture, and community events.

Product overview

Allgemeine Zeitung is a regional daily newspaper publisher operated by Verlag J. Fleißig GmbH & Co. KG, based in Coesfeld, Germany. The company operates a multi-product portfolio consisting of its core newspaper product (Allgemeine Zeitung), two local editions (Billerbecker Anzeiger and Gescherer Zeitung), and a digital ePAPER platform offering 1:1 digital replicas accessible via mobile apps and web. Additional offerings include subscription management via the AZ Aboshop e-commerce platform, the Junge Szene youth content section, and the Klasse school engagement program. The company also provides classified advertising, job listings (Jobs portal), event tickets, and inserts/prospectuses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Allgemeine Zeitung (AZ) Print Newspaper The primary regional daily print newspaper for the Coesfeld region, delivered Monday-Saturday by carrier or postal service. Serves local residents seeking daily coverage of community news, local politics, sports, and regional affairs.
• AZ ePAPER Digital Edition A 1:1 digital reproduction of the printed Allgemeine Zeitung, Billerbecker Anzeiger, and Gescherer Zeitung editions, viewable on tablets, smartphones, PCs, and laptops. Includes access to previous editions for up to 4 weeks. Available via iOS/Android apps and web browser for individual subscribers.
• Billerbecker Anzeiger Local Edition A local newspaper edition covering news from Billerbeck and surrounding communities, published as part of the Allgemeine Zeitung group and included in multi-edition subscriptions.
• Gescherer Zeitung Local Edition A local newspaper edition covering news from Gescher, published as part of the Allgemeine Zeitung group and included in multi-edition subscriptions.
• AZ Aboshop Subscription Portal An online e-commerce platform for managing print and digital newspaper subscriptions. Offers ePAPER-only subscriptions, ePAPER add-ons for print subscribers, and bundled ePAPER plus tablet packages (Samsung Galaxy Tab, Apple iPad, Lenovo Tablet).

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivery by 6:00 AM ensures morning news access

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Aschendorff DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner responsible for website conception and realization. Handles technical infrastructure, website development, and digital platform maintenance for azonline.de.
• Sourcepoint (Sourcepoint Technologie Inc.)supportingTechnology or IntegrationConsent Management Platform (CMP) provider for GDPR compliance. Part of IAB Europe Transparency & Consent Framework. Manages user consent for cookies and tracking technologies.
• EXPERT (formerly MEDIMAX)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElectronics retailer at Hansestr. 8, Coesfeld. Handles tablet pickup for ePAPER + Tablet subscription bundles. Customers receive Samsung, Apple, or Lenovo tablets upon subscription confirmation.
• Content Pass GmbHsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides ad-free, tracking-free subscription access option. Offers alternative to standard advertising-supported digital access.
• INFOnline GmbHsupportingTechnology or IntegrationWeb analytics and reach measurement service. Member of IVW (Informationsgemeinschaft zur Feststellung der Verbreitung von Werbeträgern e.V.) for standardized audience measurement.
• Google AnalyticssupportingTechnology or IntegrationWeb analytics platform for visitor behavior analysis. IP anonymization enabled. Used for website optimization and advertising effectiveness.
• Zeitung Gruppe MünstercoreOthersParent media group. Logo displayed on website linking to zeitungsgruppe-muenster.de. Part of larger regional newspaper network.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Münstersche Zeitung: Regional daily newspaper serving Münster and surrounding Münsterland municipalities. Operates an equivalent print + ePAPER subscription model, hyperlocal sports coverage, and competes for the same local advertising wallet in adjacent NRW communities.
• Ruhr Nachrichten: Major NRW regional daily based in Dortmund covering the Ruhrgebiet. Comparable print + digital subscription model, multi-edition hyperlocal coverage strategy, and competing for the same NRW regional advertising market as Allgemeine Zeitung.
• Westfalen-Blatt: Bielefeld-based Westphalian regional daily with equivalent scale, print + ePAPER subscription model, and similar multi-edition hyperlocal coverage of rural Westphalian communities adjacent to Allgemeine Zeitung's Münsterland footprint.
• Mindener Tageblatt: East Westphalia regional daily of similar small-to-mid scale serving Minden and surrounding communities. Comparable print + digital subscription model, hyperlocal news + sports focus, and equivalent tiered pricing structure.
• Westfälische Nachrichten: Sister publication within the same Zeitungs Gruppe Münster network covering Münster and the broader Münsterland region. Directly comparable regional daily with similar print+digital subscription model, hyperlocal news focus, and overlapping coverage area with Allgemeine Zeitung.
• Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger: Cologne-based regional daily with comparable print + digital subscription tiering, local sports focus, and hyperlocal community news approach. Direct regional daily peer in NRW competing for the same regional advertiser category.
• Die Glocke: Regional daily newspaper covering the Warendorf/Beckum area directly adjacent to AZ's Coesfeld circulation in the Münsterland. Comparable small-scale regional publisher with print subscriptions, ePAPER digital offering, and similar local-government/community news focus.
• Westfälisches Volksblatt: Paderborn-based regional daily in the same Westphalia region with comparable print + ePAPER subscription products, local sports coverage, and multi-edition hyperlocal publishing model targeting adjacent rural Westphalian communities.

Broad incumbents

• Rheinische Post: Major NRW regional daily covering Düsseldorf, Köln, and the Lower Rhine. Operates the same print + digital subscription model and competes in the same NRW local advertising market but at significantly greater scale and with broader geographic reach than Allgemeine Zeitung.
• Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ): Large NRW regional daily group (Funke Mediengruppe) covering the entire Ruhrgebiet and beyond. Same regional German newspaper category and subscription economics but at materially larger scale, broader geography, and with much greater digital resource capacity than Allgemeine Zeitung.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/azonline.coesfeld
• TikToktiktok.com/@azonline
• Xx.com/az_gesamt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/allgemeine-zeitung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Allgemeine Zeitung