20 Minuten
20 Minuten is Switzerland's leading free commuter newspaper and digital news platform, operated under TX Group AG, delivering free news, video, lifestyle, and live TV content to Swiss readers across German- and French-speaking regions via print, web, mobile apps, and social channels, funded by advertising and content licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What 20 Minuten does
20 Minuten is a Swiss free newspaper and digital news media brand, founded in 1999 in Zurich and now operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the publicly listed Swiss media conglomerate TX Group AG, led by publisher Pietro Supino with Bernhard Brechbühl as CEO of the 20 Minuten Gruppe and Désirée Pomper as Editor-in-Chief. The company serves Swiss residents in both German-speaking Switzerland (DCH) and French-speaking Switzerland (Romandie), operating from headquarters at Werdstrasse 21 in Zurich and regional bureaus in Bern, Basel, and St. Gallen with ~248 employees. Its core offering is a free commuter newspaper distributed at transit hubs and high-traffic locations, paired with a digital ecosystem comprising the 20min.ch website, iOS and Android mobile applications, a video hub, a lifestyle vertical, an audio platform (GOAT), and supplementary services including weather, horoscope, deals, games, and an e-paper archive.
The company's technology and product surface span digital news publishing, video, content syndication, and live television. Core technology includes a digital news platform with mobile applications for iOS and Android, RSS feed infrastructure supporting customizable category-based feeds, and a proprietary Screenplayer digital-signage solution for out-of-home content display. Distribution extends through social media channels (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Twitch, Google News) and a Live TV streaming partnership with Zattoo that embeds SRF, RTL, Pro 7, and BBC News channels. 20 Minuten has also built an in-house AI function — the Wissen/AI-Data department led by Jean-Claude Gerber — supporting AI-powered fact-checking through the 'Facts 4 Future' initiative, plus a citizen-contribution platform (News-Scout) and B2B content syndication to international partners.
The business model is advertising-led, with no reader subscription: revenue is generated from display advertising, branded content and sponsored articles, video advertising, programmatic ad sales, and commercial publishing, supplemented by licensing of news content (via RSS feeds and Screenplayer) to international companies for use on external websites and out-of-home screens. Distribution is hybrid — free print newspaper at commuter locations plus digital self-serve and social channels — and the company also sells advertising products through a dedicated B2B portal (advertising.20min.ch) with rate cards and custom campaign solutions. Customer concentration is broad, with readers as the mass-market audience and advertisers (across Key Account Management, Programmatic Partnerships, and Creative Sales) as the revenue side.
20 Minuten firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 20 Minuten
- Legal name
- 20 Minuten
- Website
- https://20minuten.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- 20 Minuten is Switzerland's leading free commuter newspaper and digital news platform, operated under TX Group AG, delivering free news, video, lifestyle, and live TV content to Swiss readers across German- and French-speaking regions via print, web, mobile apps, and social channels, funded by advertising and content licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
20 Minuten industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Newspaper Publishing
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Information (51)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- News OTT & Live News Streaming Channels (MPABAHAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- News & Politics Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAG)
Keywords
Where 20 Minuten is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
20 Minuten business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Advertising Revenue: Primary revenue stream from display advertising, branded content, sponsored articles, and video ads. The company offers various advertising formats including display ads, sponsored content labeled as 'Sponsored', competitions, and programmatic advertising. Commercial publishing team develops and produces advertising content.
- Business Partner Content Feeds: Licensing of content to international companies who use 20 Minuten's news content for their own websites, out-of-home screens, or other commercial applications.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
20 Minuten product offering
Product offeringCore offering
20 Minuten is a Swiss free newspaper and digital news platform delivering breaking news, current affairs, sports, lifestyle, and video content to Swiss residents. The company distributes its print edition at no cost at commuter hubs and transit locations while operating a comprehensive digital ecosystem including the 20min.ch website, mobile applications, and a network of sub-brands such as News-Scout, Fooby, and 20 Minuten vor Ort, with revenue generated primarily through advertising and content licensing.
Product overview
20 Minuten operates a multi-platform digital news media ecosystem with a unified core news product complemented by distinct content verticals and supplementary services. The primary offering includes the 20 Minuten News platform delivering breaking news, in-depth reporting, and current affairs coverage across Switzerland. This core is extended by dedicated video, lifestyle, and audio content verticals, alongside interactive features like the WM Tippspiel prediction game. Distribution is expanded through streaming (Live TV via Zattoo), mobile apps (iOS/Android), and content syndication tools (RSS Feed, Screenplayer). Supplementary services include an e-paper archive, horoscope, weather forecasts, deals/coupons, and online games. The platform also offers B2B advertising solutions and a community-powered News-Scout tip system for reader contributions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- News-Scout: Citizen journalism initiative where readers can submit news tips and stories.
- Fooby
- 20 Minuten vor Ort
Products and services
- 20 Minuten News
- 20 Minuten Video
- 20 Minuten Lifestyle
- RSS Feed
- Screenplayer
- Live TV
- 20 Minuten App
- Spiele (Games)
- GOAT Audio
- Werbung & Tarife (Advertising)
- WM Tippspiel 2026
Companies that use 20 Minuten
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
20 Minuten technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
20 Minuten partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ZattoocoreZattoo partnership provides live TV streaming capabilities to 20 Minuten readers. Users can access popular TV channels including SRF 1, SRF 2, SRF Info, RTL, Pro 7, and BBC News directly through the 20 Minuten platform. This integration enhances the digital media offering by combining news content with live television streaming.
- International Business PartnersminorInternational companies license 20 Minuten content for use on their own websites, out-of-home screens, or other commercial applications. This business-to-business feed service is managed through [email protected] and represents a content licensing revenue stream.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
20 Minuten competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Metro International: Metro is the global pioneer of the free commuter newspaper format, distributed at transit hubs in major cities worldwide. Closely comparable business model to 20 Minuten (free distribution at commuter locations) with digital expansion.
- Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ): NZZ is Switzerland's leading quality daily newspaper with strong digital presence (nzz.ch). Competes with 20 Minuten for Swiss news consumers and digital advertising, though positioned as a more premium/upmarket offering.
- Blick: Blick is another major Swiss free/tabloid news outlet owned by Ringier, offering similar multi-platform news coverage in German-speaking Switzerland. It competes directly with 20 Minuten for Swiss readers and advertising budgets across print and digital channels.
- Tamedia (Tamedia Publications): Tamedia is a major Swiss newspaper publisher (Tages-Anzeiger, Berner Zeitung, 20 Minuten's sister under TX Group historically, now part of TX Group). Competes in the same Swiss German-language daily newspaper market with overlapping advertising audiences.
Emerging players
- BuzzFeed: BuzzFeed is a digital-native media company that built audience scale through social distribution (especially Facebook) and viral/listicles. Comparable in its heavy reliance on social platforms for top-of-funnel reach and advertising monetization.
- Vice Media: Vice is a digital-first media company targeting younger audiences with video content across multiple platforms. Comparable in its focus on Gen Z/Millennial audiences through social channels and video-first storytelling alongside editorial coverage.
Broad incumbents
- USA Today: USA Today is a major US national newspaper with broad-based news coverage, strong digital presence, and significant advertising revenue. Comparable as a large-scale general-interest news brand monetized through advertising across print and digital channels.
- Axel Springer (Bild): Axel Springer is a major German/European media conglomerate, publisher of Bild—a high-circulation tabloid with extensive digital operations. Comparable as a large-scale free/sponsored tabloid news publisher with strong digital ambitions.
- Schibsted: Schibsted is a Nordic media conglomerate operating newspapers (VG, Aftenposten, Aftonbladet) and digital classifieds. Comparable as a multi-brand European newspaper group undergoing digital subscription and advertising transitions.
- Reach plc (Mirror, Express): Reach plc is the UK's largest commercial news publisher (Mirror, Express, Daily Star, regional titles) with significant digital transformation efforts. Comparable as a large multi-title newspaper publisher transitioning heavily to digital advertising.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
20 Minuten social profiles
Digital presence20 Minuten financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
20 Minuten leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
20 Minuten funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
20 Minuten 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 20 Minuten
What does 20 Minuten do?
20 Minuten is a Swiss free newspaper and digital news platform delivering breaking news, current affairs, sports, lifestyle, and video content to Swiss residents. The company distributes its print edition at no cost at commuter hubs and transit locations while operating a comprehensive digital ecosystem including the 20min.ch website, mobile applications, and a network of sub-brands such as News-Scout, Fooby, and 20 Minuten vor Ort, with revenue generated primarily through advertising and content licensing.
Is 20 Minuten a public or private company?
20 Minuten is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was 20 Minuten founded?
20 Minuten was founded in 1999. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is 20 Minuten based?
20 Minuten is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does 20 Minuten make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Advertising Revenue is the primary driver. The others are business Partner Content Feeds.
Who are 20 Minuten's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Metro International, Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), Blick and Tamedia (Tamedia Publications). Emerging players are BuzzFeed and Vice Media. Broad incumbents are USA Today, Axel Springer (Bild), Schibsted and Reach plc (Mirror, Express).
Does 20 Minuten have an API?
No public API is recorded for 20 Minuten.
What industry is 20 Minuten in?
20 Minuten's product category is Newspaper Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAHAK, News OTT & Live News Streaming Channels, with a secondary code of MPACACAG, News & Politics Live Streaming Platforms. Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.