Dutch Media Giant Mediahuis Hits One Million Digital Subscribers Despite Industry Pressures

2026-02-28 data

Amsterdam, Saturday, 28 February 2026.
Belgian-owned Mediahuis successfully crossed the one million digital subscriber threshold in 2025, marking a pivotal moment in European media transformation. Nearly 60 percent of their 1.8 million total subscribers now choose digital-only or predominantly digital packages, generating stable revenues of €1.26 billion despite mounting distribution costs and declining advertising income. This digital milestone demonstrates how traditional publishers can adapt to changing consumer habits while maintaining financial stability in an increasingly challenging market environment.

Digital Transformation Drives Subscriber Growth

The Belgian media conglomerate achieved an 8 percent increase in digital subscriptions during 2025, pushing total digital subscribers beyond the one million mark for the first time in the company’s history [1][2]. This growth represents a fundamental shift in consumer behavior, with nearly 60 percent of Mediahuis’s approximately 1.8 million total subscribers now opting for fully or predominantly digital packages [1][3]. The company successfully maintained stable subscriber numbers overall despite the ongoing decline in print readership, demonstrating effective customer retention during the transition from traditional to digital platforms [2][4].

Financial Resilience Amid Market Challenges

Despite facing structural pressures including rising distribution costs and declining advertising revenues, Mediahuis reported a consolidated turnover of €1.258 billion in 2025, representing a 2 percent increase from the previous year [1][3][5]. The company’s operational result remained remarkably stable at €151.8 million, compared to €151.1 million in 2024 [3][4]. This financial stability was achieved through strategic cost management and pricing adjustments, allowing the media group to navigate what CEO Gert Ysebaert described as an “uitdagende markt” (challenging market) [7]. The company’s net result reached €156.9 million, while maintaining a strong balance sheet with a net cash position of €84.4 million at year-end 2025, a significant improvement from a debt position of €72.4 million in 2024 [3].

Strategic Operations and Market Position

Mediahuis operates across five European markets, maintaining significant presence in Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the German region of North Rhine-Westphalia [1][2]. In the Netherlands, the company owns major newspaper titles De Telegraaf and NRC, alongside regional publications and popular radio stations including Radio Veronica, 100% NL, SLAM!, and Sunlite [2][7]. During 2025, Mediahuis Radio Netherlands increased its market share in the 20-59 age demographic to 11.9 percent, demonstrating growth in the competitive audio market [2][7]. The company also closed its Amsterdam printing facility during 2025, consolidating production operations in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands and Paal-Beringen in Belgium to optimize costs and respond to declining print volumes [2][4].

Innovation and Future Outlook

The company has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence and digital innovation to enhance its journalism and subscriber experience. Ana Jakimovska, Mediahuis’s head of AI strategy, emphasized that “We hebben de beste journalistiek nodig om ons beste werk te doen” (We need the best journalism to do our best work) [6]. The organization is developing what it calls an “essential subscription” model with three operational layers: informing, guiding, and enabling readers [6]. CEO Gert Ysebaert noted that in an era where AI is “flooding the ecosystem,” consumers will increasingly worry about trustworthy information, positioning quality journalism as a competitive advantage [6]. CFO Kristiaan De Beukelaer highlighted that the company’s strong financial position provides “de ruimte om onze internationale groei verder te ondersteunen, de digitale transformatie versneld voort te zetten” (the space to further support our international growth and accelerate digital transformation) [3][4].

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digital transformation media innovation