Private | |
Founded | 1990 |
Founder | Ninoslav Pavić |
Headquarters | Zagreb, Croatia |
Key people
|
Marko Smetiško (Chairman of the Board) |
Owner | Marijan Hanžeković |
Number of employees
|
1700 (2008) |
Subsidiaries | Slobodna Dalmacija d.d. |
Website | www |
Hanza Media (till July 1, 2016: Europapress Holding, or EPH) is the leading media company in Croatia and Southeast Europe, with 5 daily newspapers and more than 30 magazines. According to Media Market Monitor, it is the largest and fastest growing private media company in Southeast Europe.
Hanza Media's consumer magazines are aimed at the public and range from general-interest titles such as Cosmopolitan and Playboy, which appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, to highly specialist titles covering particular hobbies, leisure pursuits or other interest. EPH's book publishing division sold more than 20 million books in the last few years. Hanza Media also has strong national and international operations and is involved in printed media distribution, media production and tourism.
EPH did not timely nor successfully adapt to market and financial crisis that hit the newspaper industry after 2008, primarily dramatically reducing resources from advertising and marketing.
Faced with the impossibility of regular loan repayment, the ownership ( Ninoslav Pavić and WAZ-Mediengruppe with 50 percent each) reached in February 2014 a pre-failure settlement with creditors. So 90 percent of the share passed into the hands of the Hypo Group, which soon sold its share to the local attorney Marijan Hanžeković.
Founded in 1990 by Ninoslav Pavić and his partners, Europapress Holding's first publication was the weekly news magazine Globus.
First published in December 1990, Globus was originally devised as a tabloid. Low circulation and financial losses marked its first year in print. However, with the start of the Croatian War of Independence, Globus instantly shifted its focus and started publishing revealing stories from the front lines. It was the first publication to report war crimes committed by Serbian forces against Croats in Croatia.
Later on, in mid and late 1990s, Globus started writing about the shady aspects of privatization in Croatia, organized crime and all other topics avoided by the government-controlled media. As such, Globus is credited for introducing investigative and independent journalism in Croatia. Ever since its founding, Globus remained the most influential political magazine in Croatia.