SCM Bundes-Verlag

What SCM Bundes-Verlag does

SCM Bundes-Verlag gGmbH is a non-profit Christian publishing house founded in 1887 and headquartered in Witten, Germany, operating under the Stiftung Christliche Medien (Christian Media Foundation) within the SCM Mediengruppe alongside Hänssler, R.Brockhaus, Gerth Medien, adeo Verlag, Born Verlag, and Save & Sound. The company publishes approximately 35 named magazine sub-brands spanning children's titles (KLÄX, Family FIPS, Kleine Leute - Großer Gott), teen publications (Teensmag, FamilyNEXT), women's magazines (JOYCE, Lydia), men's and general Christian living titles (AUFATMEN, Family, lebenslust), theological and pastoral journals (Christsein heute, P&S, Faszination Bibel, HauskreisMagazin, sela.), and special-purpose publications, with supporting books, audiobooks, music, and gift merchandise. Its core technology is a digital magazine and e-book distribution platform (AllMag-Flat) that aggregates 600+ magazine titles behind a monthly-cancellable subscription, complemented by an e-commerce storefront at shop.bundes-verlag.net and a separate Swiss storefront fulfilled through wholly-owned partner bvMedia Christliche Medien GmbH in Ins, Switzerland.

The business model combines recurring consumer magazine subscriptions (annual minimum terms with monthly renewal thereafter, 20% first-year discount for new subscribers) with one-time single-issue sales, books and audio products, gift merchandise, and a growing B2B advertising/media-sales layer that monetizes banner, newsletter, and branded-content inventory on Jesus.de and bibel.tv. Distribution is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer e-commerce in Germany and Switzerland, inside-sales phone order hotline, a dedicated FeG Shop for Free Evangelical Congregations, and bulk Verteilmedien (distribution media) sold to churches for evangelism. Customer segmentation is hybrid, addressing both B2C segments (families, women, teens, young adults, faith seekers) and B2B segments (churches, Christian organizations, small groups/Hauskreise).

The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by German Protestant church networks and the liturgical calendar (Easter, Christmas, Lent/Fastenzeit, Pentecost), with marketing supported by Jesus.de content platform, bibel.tv, multi-frequency newsletters (Blickpunkt, Early Bird), social media, and the edenjobs Christian job board. The company's product cadence into 2026 (3E Gemeinde allein zu Haus 1/2026, P&S Diagnosen 2/2026, HauskreisMagazin 79 3/2026, sela. Gebetsmagazin 2026) and recent relaunches such as Faszination Bibel indicate an active editorial refresh cycle, though no AI capabilities, funding rounds, headcount figures, or revenue figures are disclosed in the source material.

Name

SCM Bundes-Verlag

Legal name

SCM Bundes-Verlag gGmbH

Website

https://bundes-verlag.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SCM Bundes-Verlag gGmbH is a non-profit German Christian publishing house in Witten publishing ~35 magazine sub-brands and the AllMag-Flat digital platform aggregating 600+ magazines, serving German-speaking families, churches, and faith seekers across Germany and Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Book Publishers (513130), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Hardcover & Premium Editions Publishing (MPAJAAAE)

Keywords

• Christian publishing
• Religious magazines
• Faith-based media
• Christian books
• Devotional content

Headquarters

HQ city

Witten

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Recurring subscription revenue from print and digital magazine subscriptions. Subscriptions typically have annual minimum terms with monthly renewal thereafter. Premium gift subscriptions (Geschenkabos) with bonuses available. Cancellation notice periods vary by product type.
2. Single Issue Sales: One-time purchase revenue from individual magazine editions, special issues, and single copies of publications. Volume/bulk pricing available for distribution materials.
3. Books and Audio Products: Sale of books including audiobooks on CD and as MP3 downloads, music albums on CD and digital downloads, and sheet music materials.
4. Gift Items and Merchandise: Sale of gift items including mugs, bottles, napkins and other Christian-themed gift merchandise.
5. Print Advertising: Advertising space sold in print magazines across the portfolio including titles like Family, JOYCE, DRAN, teensmag, and others. Targeted at Christian audiences with demographic categories.
6. Online Advertising: Digital advertising including banner ads on Jesus.de and newsletters. TKP (cost per thousand impressions) pricing model. Includes branded content opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SCM Bundes-Verlag is a non-profit Christian publishing house that produces and sells magazines, books, audio products, and digital media targeting German-speaking Christian audiences. Its flagship offering is the AllMag-Flat digital subscription platform providing access to over 600 magazine titles, complemented by approximately 35 named magazine sub-brands covering children, teens, women, men, families, young adults, and church communities, available in print and digital formats. The company also sells Verteilmedien distribution materials to churches, single issues, books, audio products, gift items, and advertising placements.

Product overview

SCM Bundes-Verlag is a non-profit Christian publishing house (gGmbH) operating as part of the SCM Mediengruppe that publishes magazines, books, and digital media. The product portfolio centers on the AllMag-Flat digital reading platform offering 600+ magazine titles, complemented by approximately 35 named magazine sub-brands targeting audiences from children (KLÄX, Family FIPS, Kleine Leute - Großer Gott) to teenagers (Teensmag, FamilyNEXT) to adults (AUFATMEN, JOYCE, Lydia, lebenslust, DRAN, SevenEleven). Special interest titles include Faszination Bibel (Bible study), P&S (pastoral care), HauskreisMagazin (small groups), and sela. (prayer). The company also produces Verteilmedien (distribution materials) for churches, Sonderhefte (special issues), and media sales services including advertising banners, branded content, job listings (edenjobs), and newsletter placements. Products are available in print subscription, digital subscription, and single issue formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AllMag-Flat: Digital magazine subscription platform offering access to over 600 magazines
• Family FIPS
• Faszination Bibel
• JOYCE
• Lydia
• AUFATMEN
• Teensmag
• KLÄX
• DRAN
• lebenslust
• HauskreisMagazin
• P&S
• sela.
• andersLEBEN
• MOVO
• 3E
• Family
• FamilyNEXT
• LebensLauf
• Christsein heute
• SevenEleven
• Zuversicht und Stärke
• Zeit mit Gott
• Theologisches Gespräch
• Theologische Beiträge
• pur
• Orientierung
• Leben aus dem Wort
• Kleine Leute - Großer Gott
• Guter Start
• Atempause
• EiNS
• Initiative Schöpfung

Products and services

• AllMag-Flat Digital subscription platform offering access to over 600 magazines from various brands for reading on digital devices, with a monthly cancellation option.
• Family FIPS Magazine for families with children, offering age-appropriate content and coloring activities.
• andersLEBEN Magazine targeting young adults with an alternative lifestyle perspective.
• Lydia Magazine for women focusing on faith, lifestyle, and spiritual growth.
• JOYCE Women's magazine offering inspiration and accompaniment through challenges of daily life between children, career, community, and faith.
• Family Magazine for families, bringing faith into everyday life.
• Faszination Bibel Magazine exploring biblical backgrounds, connections, and surprising discoveries, recently relaunched with new design and authors.
• AUFATMEN Magazine providing spiritual encouragement and breathing space for readers.
• FamilyNEXT Magazine for families with children, providing next-generation faith content.
• Teensmag Magazine for teenagers, supporting their first steps in faith with age-appropriate content.
• MOVO Magazine targeting young adults with contemporary Christian lifestyle content.
• KLÄX Magazine for children and teens, helping them discover faith in an engaging way.
• 3E Plus Magazine focusing on evangelism and church community life.
• LebensLauf Magazine for career and life planning from a Christian perspective.
• P&S (Persönlichkeit & Seelsorge) Magazine focused on psychology and pastoral care, exploring topics of personality and counseling.
• lebenslust Mission-oriented magazine reaching people interested in faith but often distant from church, offering spiritual orientation and entertainment.
• SevenEleven Magazine targeting young adults aged 18-28, addressing faith and life questions.
• Christsein heute Theological magazine providing academic engagement with Christian faith topics.
• sela. Prayer magazine helping readers listen to God's voice and deepen their prayer life.
• DRAN Magazine for young adults in transition (18-28), addressing study, career, travel, and faith questions.
• HauskreisMagazin Material magazine for small groups and Bible circles, providing 10 thematic units per edition with practical tips.
• Kleine Leute - Großer Gott Magazine and songbook for children, helping them discover faith in God.
• Die Stimmungsbande (Gefühlskarten) Emotion cards for children with child-friendly explanations and prayers to help discover feelings and bring them to God.
• 3E - Gemeinde allein zu Haus Magazine for church communities facing challenges in gathering together.
• Orientierung Magazine with editions for house groups (Hauskreis Edition) and large print (Großdruck-Edition).
• Zeit mit Gott Daily devotional magazine available in standard and large print formats.
• Sonderhefte (Special Issues) Special thematic issues including seasonal content (Lent, Easter, Christmas), event-related materials, and topical special editions.
• Verteilmedien Distribution materials including magazines, flyers, and calendars for churches and communities to share faith content.
• edenjobs Job portal for Christians, connecting employers and job seekers, part of the Jesus.de network, with XML interface capability for job listings.
• Branded Content Sponsored content services allowing brands to reach audiences through editorial integration on social media channels including Facebook and Instagram.
• Werbebanner (Advertising Banners) Banner advertising options on Jesus.de platform and Bibel TV, targeting Christians between 30-50 years with various banner formats.
• Newsletter Advertising Newsletter advertising options including Blickpunkt (Monday-Friday) and Early Bird (Monday-Sunday) placements, plus bibel.tv and scm-shop newsletters.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• bvMedia Christliche Medien GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss market partner handling order fulfillment and distribution for Swiss customers. Orders for Swiss delivery are processed through this partner company to ensure local service and compliance with Swiss market requirements.
• Jesus.decoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint marketing and advertising partnership. Jesus.de is a leading German-language Christian news and entertainment platform. Provides advertising inventory and branded content opportunities across the platform's digital channels.
• bibel.tvcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChristian television platform partnership for advertising and newsletter marketing. Targets values-oriented audience with above-average engagement and click rates.
• SCM MediengruppecoreOthersParent publishing group including SCM Bundes-Verlag, Hänssler, R.Brockhaus, Gerth Medien, adeo Verlag, Born Verlag, and Save & Sound. Shared resources, brand portfolio, and distribution networks across the group.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Herder Verlag: One of Germany's largest Catholic publishers with a broad portfolio spanning theology, lifestyle, children's books, and digital media. Larger scale than SCM Bundes-Verlag with overlapping religious publishing verticals.

Direct peers

• Calwer Verlag: Stuttgart-based Protestant publisher producing Sunday school materials, children's religious content, and Bible study resources. Comparable in the church education and family ministry segment.
• St. Benno-Verlag: Catholic publisher based in Leipzig producing books, magazines, and devotionals for German Catholic audiences. Comparable as a same-geography denominational publisher with subscription-based magazines.
• Brunnen Verlag: German Christian publisher based in Gießen producing books, magazines, and audio for the Protestant and evangelical market. Highly comparable to SCM Bundes-Verlag as a same-geography, same-faith, multi-format Christian media house.
• Francke Verlag: German Christian publisher based in Marburg with a long history in Protestant literature, magazines, and academic theology. Comparable product mix and faith-based audience overlap.
• Hänssler Verlag: Christian book and audio publisher within SCM Mediengruppe with a comparable evangelical audience focus. Direct peer in product format (books, audiobooks) and target demographic.
• Evangelische Verlagsanstalt: Leipzig-based Protestant publisher producing theological books, magazines, and church resources. Comparable as a German-language faith publisher with church and pastoral care content lines.
• Gütersloher Verlagshaus: Protestant publishing imprint with strong theology, ethics, and church professional content. Comparable audience (German Protestant clergy and engaged laity) and editorial positioning.
• Gerth Medien: Sister imprint within the SCM Mediengruppe, producing Christian music, books, and gifts. Comparable as a German Christian media brand operating within the same corporate umbrella with overlapping distribution.

Regional players

• Christianity Today: US-based evangelical Christian media platform with magazines, digital content, and church resources. Comparable as a Christian subscription-media publisher, but serving an English-speaking market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lesen_wachsen
• Facebookfacebook.com/bundesverlag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bundes-verlag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 SCM Bundes-Verlag