Haas Mediengruppe

What Haas Mediengruppe does

Haas Mediengruppe (legal entity: Dr. Haas GmbH) is a family-owned, multi-platform regional media company headquartered in Mannheim, Germany. The group operates six daily newspapers — Mannheimer Morgen (flagship), Südhessen Morgen, Schwetzinger Zeitung/Hockenheimer Tageszeitung, Bergsträßer Anzeiger, and Fränkische Nachrichten — alongside a portfolio of magazines (econo, ILMA, Zeitreise, ubi bene, Pfötchen, Gastroguide), digital news portals (mannheimer-morgen.de, fnweb.de, and the HEADLINE24 family), and a private postal/logistics subsidiary (MORGENPOST). Its stated audience reach is approximately 800,000 daily readers across print and digital, with 7.9 million monthly digital users.

The group's technology stack spans print publishing, digital ePaper, iOS and Android news apps, websites, video (YouTube), podcasts, and email newsletters. Recent technical investments include AI-generated avatar video formats (Fränkische Nachrichten, 2026), AI-synthesized voice podcasts ('Mannheim kompakt', 2023), participation in Smartocto's User-Needs Labs analytics program, and a partnership with The Data Institute for digital transformation. A dedicated Head of AI role was created in January 2026.

Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring subscription revenue (print and Digital+ ePaper/app packages), advertising sales via HAAS MEDIA GmbH (print, digital, and HAAS Publishing campaigns), transactional logistics services (MORGENPOST private letter delivery), event monetization (Wahlarena, Immobilientage, MM Stadtgespräch), classifieds/advertising on jobmorgen.de, and B2B corporate publishing. Total revenue is approximately €100 million across ~650 employees, 25 domestic subsidiaries, and 11 participations. The company is controlled by the Bode family and is led by Florian Kranefuß (CEO) and Robert Schmidtlein (CFO).

Name

Haas Mediengruppe

Legal name

Dr. Haas GmbH

Website

https://haas-mediengruppe.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1813

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Haas Mediengruppe is a family-owned German regional media company headquartered in Mannheim, publishing six daily newspapers, magazines, digital news portals, podcasts, and apps, plus a private postal subsidiary, serving the Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar and Main-Tauber-Kreis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Newspaper Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (513110), Periodical Publishers (513120), Advertising Agencies (541810), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)

Keywords

• Regional newspaper publishing
• Digital media services
• Advertising sales
• Subscription media
• Corporate publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Mannheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Print Newspaper Subscriptions: Daily newspaper subscriptions for regional newspapers including Mannheimer Morgen, Südhessen Morgen, Schwetzinger Zeitung, Bergsträßer Anzeiger, and Fränkische Nachrichten
2. Digital/E-Paper Subscriptions: Digital+ paid content subscriptions including ePaper, premium online content, and news apps
3. Print and Digital Advertising: Advertising revenue from print newspapers, ePaper, websites, and digital marketing solutions through HAAS Media GmbH
4. Event Services: Events including Wahlarena, Immobilientage, MM Stadtgespräch, corporate events, and exhibitions
5. Private Letter/Delivery Services: MORGENPOST private letter service handling up to 150,000 letters daily plus parcel and goods shipments
6. Corporate Publishing: Publishing services for external companies including HAAS Publishing campaigns, mobility campaigns, and marketing materials
7. Classifieds and Job Portal: jobmorgen.de regional job portal with online job advertisements

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Haas Mediengruppe publishes five regional daily newspapers (Mannheimer Morgen, Fränkische Nachrichten, Südhessen Morgen, Bergsträßer Anzeiger, Schwetzinger Zeitung/Hockenheimer Tageszeitung) and multiple magazines, complemented by digital news portals, mobile apps, podcasts and newsletters. Beyond journalism, the group sells advertising and marketing services through HAAS MEDIA GmbH, operates the MORGENPOST private postal and logistics service, runs the jobmorgen.de job portal, and provides corporate publishing and event services for external businesses.

Product overview

Haas Mediengruppe is a multimedia media company serving the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region and Main-Tauber district. Its portfolio comprises six daily newspapers (Mannheimer Morgen as the flagship title, Fränkische Nachrichten, Südhessen Morgen, Bergsträßer Anzeiger, Schwetzinger Zeitung/Hockenheimer Tageszeitung, and regional inserts), multiple magazines (econo, ILMA, Zeitreise, ubi bene, Pfötchen, Gastroguide), digital news portals (mannheimer-morgen.de, fnweb.de, headline24 portals), a job portal (jobmorgen.de), a private postal/logistics service (MORGENPOST), an advertising sales unit (HAAS MEDIA), and a content/digital agency (HAAS Publishing). The group has aggressively expanded into digital products including the MM News App (iOS/Android), a portfolio of podcasts ('Verbrechen im Quadrat', '68 Grad', 'Mannheim kompakt' with AI voices, and others), newsletters, online events (MM Stadtgespräch, MM Wahlarena), virtual marketplaces (vonhier.morgenweb.de), and media education programs (Klasse Kids, MM Akademie). The company also integrated the regional TV broadcaster RNF (Rhein-Neckar-Fernsehen) in 2019, though it was later discontinued in 2019–2020 in favor of digital video formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mannheimer Morgen (MM): Flagship daily newspaper of the media group serving Mannheim and the Rhine-Neckar region
• HAAS MEDIA
• HAAS Publishing
• HEADLINE24
• MORGENPOST
• MM News App

Products and services

• Mannheimer Morgen Flagship daily newspaper serving Mannheim and the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region, distributed in print, ePaper and digital formats via mannheimer-morgen.de, with a daily circulation of approximately 110,000.
• Fränkische Nachrichten Daily newspaper serving the Main-Tauber and Odenwald regions, published in Tauberbischofsheim and accessible via fnweb.de, including an AI-generated avatar news format.
• Südhessen Morgen Daily newspaper serving southern Hesse (Südhessen), celebrating 30 years in 2021, distributed in print and digital editions.
• Bergsträßer Anzeiger Daily newspaper for the Bergstraße district (Bensheim and surrounding area) within Haas Mediengruppe's portfolio.
• Schwetzinger Zeitung / Hockenheimer Tageszeitung Combined daily local newspaper for Schwetzingen and Hockenheim, celebrating 140 years in 2021 and winner of a European Newspaper Award for the 'Krieg der Maschinen' special page.
• econo Magazine Monthly regional business magazine for the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region, covering business, innovation and labour topics aimed at regional decision-makers.
• ILMA Magazine Magazine produced by Mannheimer Morgen volunteers and freelancers focusing on sustainability and discovering places and people in Mannheim, available at ilma.de.
• Zeitreise Magazin Print magazine presenting day-trip destinations with regional history; first issue launched in 2022 tied to Bundesgartenschau Mannheim, featuring 100 pages with around 30 new destinations per edition.
• ubi bene Magazine Regional lifestyle magazine relaunched with a new look in 2021 after 15 years, covering sustainable startups, gastronomy, regional wines and local features.
• Gastroguide 'Genuss pur' Culinary print guide for the Rhine-Neckar region listing approximately 50 restaurants, cafés and gastronomic venues, priced at 9.90 Euro per copy.
• Headline24 Reach Portals Regional reach portals HEIDELBERG24, MANNHEIM24 and LUDWIGSHAFEN24 providing regional news under common editorial leadership.
• jobmorgen.de Regional job portal with self-service online job advertisement booking via kimeta technology and payment through PayPal, credit card, Giropay and Sofortüberweisung.
• MORGENPOST Private Letter and Logistics Service Private postal and logistics service (100% subsidiary) handling up to 150,000 letters daily, parcel shipments, full-service offerings, real-time logistics fleet tracking and digital innovations in parcel and letter services.
• HAAS MEDIA GmbH Advertising Sales Advertising sales company of Haas Mediengruppe handling regional and digital marketing solutions, led by co-MDs Yvonne Wenzel and Franzisca Jaster.
• HAAS Publishing Corporate Publishing Content and digital agency arm providing campaign development (e.g., mobility campaigns for the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport), corporate publishing and marketing materials for external companies.
• MM News App Mobile news application for Apple iOS and Google Android offering personalized content for Digital+ subscribers; achieved over 1,000 installs in its first week.
• MM Podcast Portfolio Multi-format podcast portfolio including 'Verbrechen im Quadrat' (crime, 33,500+ subscribers), '68 Grad' (climate, German Climate Journalism Prize 2025 winner), 'WeiterLeben' (obituary), 'Mannheim kompakt' (AI-voiced daily news), 'Buwe Gebabbel' (SV Waldhof football), 'Ppppodcast' (stuttering, award-winning) and 'Fred Fuchs fragt nach' (children's podcast with Radio Regenbogen).
• MM Newsletter Portfolio Portfolio of newsletters including 'Guten Morgen Mannheim!', 'Leben in Mannheim', 'Business Class' economics newsletter, 'Buwe-Newsletter' (SV Waldhof), local newsletters and the Corona topic newsletter.
• News Portal Paid-Content Service Relaunched paid-content news portals mannheimer-morgen.de, bergstraesser-anzeiger.de, schwetzinger-zeitung.de and fnweb.de with mobile optimization, improved analytics and payment via PayPal, credit card and SEPA, reaching 1.5 million monthly users and 6 million monthly visits.
• Regio Pass Cooperative Subscription Cooperative digital subscription launched with BNN and Badische Zeitung enabling subscribers free access to premium content from all three participating Baden-based newspaper houses.
• MM Wahlarena Election Event Political election event format hosting candidates for public office in live discussions at venues such as the Mannheimer Rosengarten Nationaltheater, with live streaming and audience participation via WhatsApp.
• MM Stadtgespräch Live Event Format Live event format in cooperation with Abendakademie Mannheim featuring expert discussions on societal topics with audience participation and live streaming, moderated by MM editorial team.
• Zukunft Karriere Career Fair Career and apprenticeship fair for the Main-Tauber district organized by Fränkische Nachrichten; held digitally since 2020 with employer profiles, student profiles, matching, chat and video call capabilities.
• Klasse Kids Media Literacy Program Media literacy program for fourth graders in the Mannheimer Morgen and Südhessen Morgen distribution areas, running multiple weeks as a curriculum unit.
• MM Akademie Educational academy launched by Mannheimer Morgen in cooperation with SRH Fernhochschule offering seminars and workshops such as 'Strategic Media Work' taught by communication specialists and MM editors.
• vonhier.morgenweb.de Local Marketplace Virtual marketplace connecting customers with local retailers, craftsmen, gastronomers and cultural venues during the COVID-19 crisis; searchable by location, radius and service type (pickup, delivery, online, open for business).

Quantifiable outcome

• E-Paper subscriptions grew by 28% in April 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• GBG UnternehmensgruppemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2024Subscription model cooperation 'Starke Kooperation für Demokratie' providing innovative subscription model for municipal housing company's employees.
• Stuttgarter NachrichtencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Content partnership in state politics reporting for Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgarter Nachrichten supply texts on state politics topics for HAAS newspapers, strengthening both houses' journalistic position.
• Radio RegenbogenminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 May 2021Podcast cooperation for children's podcast 'Fred Fuchs fragt nach' combining MM local content with Radio Regenbogen audio expertise.
• ARD (Das Erste)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 May 2021Documentary cooperation on Speyer church abuse scandal investigation resulting in 45-minute film 'In Gottes Namen' broadcast on ARD Tagesthemen and available in ARD Mediathek.
• SRH-FernhochschuleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2021Educational partnership creating 'MM Akademie' offering seminars on strategic media work and journalism communication skills.
• FUNKE Mediengruppe (Zentralredaktion Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Content partnership providing mantle topics from politics, economy, and news. HAAS newspapers gain access to exclusive journalistic content from FUNKE Zentralredaktion, replacing previous content providers. Strengthens regional Leitmedien of Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar.
• IHK Heilbronn-FrankenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for 'Zukunft Karriere DIGITAL' vocational training fair in Main-Tauber-Kreis
• Sparkasse TauberfrankenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor partner for digital vocational training fair
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit Schwäbisch Hall-TauberbischofsheimminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment employment agency partner for digital training fair
• Badische Medienhäuser (BNN, Badischer Zeitung)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital cooperation 'Regio Pass' enabling subscribers free access to premium content from all three participating newspapers - a signal for quality journalism.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heilbronner Stimme: Regional daily newspaper in northern Baden-Württemberg with strong local advertising franchise and growing digital subscription business; directly comparable in regional publishing operations.
• Stuttgarter Nachrichten: Stuttgart-based regional daily newspaper group with a content partnership with Haas on Baden-Württemberg state politics; comparable in scale and digital subscription model.
• Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung: Direct competitor regional daily newspaper headquartered in Heidelberg serving the same Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar; competing for the same subscriber and advertising base as Mannheimer Morgen.
• Südwest Presse: Ulm-based regional newspaper group covering Baden-Württemberg; comparable multi-title regional publishing model with print and digital subscription revenue mix.
• Badische Zeitung: Freiburg-based regional daily and digital publisher in Baden; joined Haas in the 2026 'Regio Pass' subscription cooperation, indicating direct overlap in audience and digital subscription strategy.

Regional players

• Main-Post: Würzburg-based regional newspaper group serving Lower Franconia, adjacent to Haas's Main-Tauber-Kreis territory; comparable family-influenced regional publishing model.

Broad incumbents

• Funke Mediengruppe: Major German regional and national newspaper group (Westdeutsche Allgemeine, Berliner Morgenpost); current national-content partner supplying Haas newspapers via FUNKE Zentralredaktion Berlin.
• DuMont Mediengruppe: Cologne-based media group with regional newspaper titles and digital platforms; comparable in German regional multi-title publishing and advertising sales operations.
• Ippen Medien: German regional newspaper and digital media group (Frankfurter Rundschau, Hessenschau); comparable in regional digital subscription and reach-portal strategy.
• Madsack Mediengruppe: Hanover-based regional newspaper group operating titles like Hannoversche Allgemeine and Lübecker Nachrichten; relevant comparable for multi-title German regional publishing portfolio and digital subscription scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mannheimer.morgen
• Instagraminstagram.com/mannheimer_morgen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries24 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 Haas Mediengruppe