When the television station RTL announced in February of this year that it would restructure its "publishing business", the shock was great: because the broadcaster, which had taken over the traditional magazine publisher Gruner+Jahr, understood this realignment to mean a clear-cutting in its magazine portfolio. Out of 1900 jobs, 700 were to be cut, 23 titles were to be discontinued or sold. RTL wanted to keep only 13 magazines, including "Stern", "Brigitte" and "Geo", the publisher's best-known publications.

One of the titles that RTL wanted to give up at the time was the popular history magazine "Geo Epoch". Shortly after the announcement and the ensuing horror, however, RTL rowed back in this case. For all other publications, the decision is final, but the continued existence of "Geo Epoch" will be re-examined.

Timeless content

This process is now complete. After anxious months for the magazine's employees, the decision has been made: The "Geo Epoch" is to remain, in print and "as a supporting pillar" of the new digital offer stern+. According to Stephan Schmitter, Chief Content Officer RTL Deutschland, the magazine's analysis has shown that the "very high-quality, timeless content" is an "ideal complement" to the daily reporting on stern+ and that "the loyal and solvent target group" offers great potential. The first two issues of the magazine this year have sold well, and the podcast "Crimes of the Past" is finding more and more listeners.

Now the editor-in-chief and management wanted to "further sharpen the economic framework for GEO epoch." What this means for the magazine's employees was not clear from the press release.