WORLD PRESS TRENDS - World Association of Newspapers

FINLAND
Advertising expenditure
(Euro million, in current prices)
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Newspapers 417 452 462 491 540 582 624 599 578 580 587 602
Magazines 90 104 111 133 158 170 183 185 180 181 185 190
Television 137 161 165 190 204 205 213 195
Radio 26 28 27 30 34 34 38 40
Cinema 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
Outdoor 21 24 25 29 31 32 35 35
Internet 0 0 1 2 4 6 12 11
Total 691 769 792 876 972 1,031 1,106 1,067 1,050 1,066 1,087 1,114
Source: 1994-2001 Gallup Mainostieto, 2002-2005 ZenithOptimedia
Notes: Excludes agency commission and production costs, includes classified advertising, after discounts
Research
Circulation is audited by: Suomen Mediatarkastus Oy
Readership is measured by: Suomen Gallup-Media Oy
Methodology: A national media survey is carried out through
telephone interviews (sample size 9,000) throughout the year.
A regional media survey (sample size 14,000) is carried out
through postal interviews, again throughout the year.
Taxes
VAT on: subscription sales 0 single copy sales 22%
advertising 0 newsprint 0
plant 0 composition 0
(standard VAT rate 22%)
Publishers pay a 28% tax rate on profits; this is the normal rate
for all private companies.
Subsidies
Since 1971 the government has granted a public subsidy to the
press. 60% of the grant is divided by the government according
to a proposition made by a state committee. The remainder is
granted to political party publications.
The total amount of direct subsidies in 1999 amounted to Euro
12 million.
Discounts
on: post 0 rail 0 telephone 0 telegraph 0 telex 0
Ownership
Does any law exist governing publishing-house ownership, or the
registration of shares in newspaper-publishing companies No
Is there any law prohibiting or restricting foreign companies or
individuals from owning shares, and in particular, the majority of
shares, of domestic daily newspapers The press follows the general
regulations established for foreign capital investment. The
purchase by a foreign investor of more than one-third of the
capital stock of a domestic company with more than 1,000
employees, or an annual turnover exceeding Euro 168 million,
must be submitted to the authorities for approval. The
agreement is usually granted unless the purchase could affect
national security. No restriction applies to companies from EEA
countries (EU + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and
Switzerland).
Is there any law prohibiting daily newspaper or periodical publishers
from operating radio or television stations in the same locality No
So as to guarantee disclosure and transparency in the capital structure
and to avert silent partnerships, is there a law or rule making it possible
to determine who actually owns a publishing company Registered
shares are deemed public information. There is, however, no
obligation to register shares. The owners of unregistered shares
may still receive dividends but cannot vote in shareholder
meetings.
Is there an antitrust law limiting concentration in the daily press
No
Is further regulation of media concentration expected No
WORLD ASSOCIATION OF NEWSPAPERS - WORLD PRESS TRENDS 2003 117