Tun Media

Tun Media AS is a Norwegian media group based in Oslo that publishes specialist newspapers and magazines serving Norway’s agricultural and rural sectors. Its portfolio includes the daily newspaper Nationen, the weekly newspaper Bondebladet, and the magazines Traktor and Norsk Landbruk. The group’s publications address farmers, agricultural businesses, rural communities and readers interested in farming, land use and the wider food-production system. Tun Media was established in 2000 through the merger of three existing publishing operations: Landbruksforlaget, Bondebladet and Nationen. The combination brought together a daily newspaper, a weekly agricultural newspaper and established specialist publishing assets under one media company. Rather than operating as a general-interest media house, Tun Media developed around a clearly defined sector audience and the information needs of Norwegian agriculture. The company’s ownership has historically been closely connected to the agricultural cooperative and representative organizations that form an important part of Norway’s farming infrastructure. The largest shareholders identified in reference material were Tine with 25 percent, the Norwegian Agrarian Association with 25 percent, Nortura with 22.5 percent and Landkreditt with 8 percent. The remainder was held by approximately 800 individual shareholders. Felleskjøpet was also described as a significant owner at a later stage. This ownership structure linked Tun Media to major actors in Norway’s dairy, meat, agricultural-supply, finance and farmers’ representative sectors, while its editorial products maintained a media and publishing function. In June 2021, Tine, Nortura, Felleskjøpet and Landkreditt announced an agreement to sell their shares. The proposed buyers were the national media group Amedia, which would obtain a 66.9 percent stake, and Nord-Trøndelag, a Steinkjer-based media holding company associated with Trønder-Avisa, which would acquire 8 percent. The Norwegian Agrarian Association retained its 25 percent holding. The transaction followed an internal analysis that concluded Tun Media needed to join forces with a larger media group. The change represented a strategic shift from ownership dominated by agricultural-sector institutions toward a structure involving established Norwegian media owners, while preserving the Agrarian Association as a substantial shareholder. Tun Media’s brand identity is therefore tied to specialist journalism rather than mass-market entertainment or general broadcasting. Its publications provide news, commentary, practical information and industry coverage for a defined professional and social community. Although the supplied reference material does not establish a separate broadcasting operation, the company is best classified as an agricultural and rural publishing group.

Tun Media was formed in 2000 through the merger of Landbruksforlaget, Bondebladet and Nationen. The merger consolidated several agricultural publishing activities into a single Norwegian media group, combining the daily newspaper Nationen, the weekly newspaper Bondebladet and other specialist titles. The resulting company was based in Oslo and focused on journalism and publishing for agriculture, farming and rural Norway. The group’s portfolio developed around specialist titles rather than broad general-interest media. Nationen served as a daily newspaper covering agriculture, rural affairs and related political and economic issues. Bondebladet provided weekly agricultural news and sector coverage, while Traktor and Norsk Landbruk addressed specialist interests within farming, agricultural machinery and land-based production. Together, these titles gave Tun Media a presence across daily news, weekly trade journalism and magazine publishing. Tun Media’s ownership reflected its close relationship with Norway’s agricultural sector. Tine and the Norwegian Agrarian Association each held 25 percent, Nortura held 22.5 percent and Landkreditt held 8 percent. The remaining shares were held by approximately 800 individuals. Felleskjøpet was later identified as a significant shareholder. This structure placed the company alongside organizations representing farmers, agricultural cooperatives, food production and rural finance, while Tun Media operated as a publishing business rather than as a cooperative or producer organization. In June 2021, several of the major agricultural-sector shareholders announced an agreement to sell their holdings. The proposed ownership change was divided between Amedia, which would secure 66.9 percent, and Nord-Trøndelag, a Steinkjer-based media holding company associated with Trønder-Avisa, which would take 8 percent. The Norwegian Agrarian Association retained its 25 percent stake. The proposed transaction followed an internal review that concluded Tun Media needed to cooperate with or become part of a larger media group. It marked a significant change in the company’s ownership model, moving much of the equity from agricultural-sector institutions to established media owners while maintaining a substantial position for the Agrarian Association. The available reference material does not provide detailed information about later acquisitions, management changes, financial performance or the continuing publication status of every title. Tun Media is nevertheless identifiable as a Norwegian specialist publishing group whose principal historical role has been to provide agricultural and rural journalism through Nationen, Bondebladet, Traktor and Norsk Landbruk.

1. 2021Major ownership transaction announced

   Amedia and Nord-Trøndelag were announced as buyers of shares from Tine, Nortura, Felleskjøpet and Landkreditt. The proposed arrangement gave Amedia 66.9 percent and Nord-Trøndelag 8 percent, while the Norwegian Agrarian Association retained 25 percent.

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2. 2000Tun Media is established

   Tun Media is created through a merger of Landbruksforlaget, Bondebladet and Nationen.

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A specialist Norwegian media group serving farmers, agricultural businesses and rural communities through newspapers and magazines focused on agriculture, land use and food production.

• NationenDaily newspaper

  Nationen is Tun Media’s daily newspaper and one of its central publishing properties. It focuses on agriculture, rural communities, food production and political or economic issues affecting Norway’s countryside and farming sector.

• BondebladetWeekly newspaper

  Bondebladet is a weekly newspaper aimed primarily at farmers and agricultural readers. It formed part of the publishing operation that merged into Tun Media in 2000 and contributes specialist news and information for Norway’s farming community.

• TraktorAgricultural magazine

  Traktor is a specialist magazine associated with Tun Media and focused on tractors, agricultural machinery and related farming equipment. The title extends the group’s coverage from general agricultural news into practical and technical areas of farm operations.

• Norsk LandbrukAgricultural magazine

  Norsk Landbruk is a specialist agricultural magazine associated with Tun Media. It covers Norwegian farming and land-based production for a professional and sector-focused readership.

• 2021Tun Media seeks new ownership structureM&A

  An internal analysis concluded that Tun Media needed to join forces with one of Norway’s larger media groups. Several major agricultural-sector shareholders consequently agreed to sell their holdings.

  What changed. Amedia was designated to acquire a 66.9 percent stake and Nord-Trøndelag an 8 percent stake. The Norwegian Agrarian Association retained its 25 percent ownership share.

  Aftermath. The announced arrangement would shift majority ownership toward established media interests while preserving the Agrarian Association as a major shareholder. The supplied material does not confirm subsequent completion details.

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• 2021Tun Media ownership sale announced

  Tine, Nortura, Felleskjøpet and Landkreditt announced plans to sell their shares in Tun Media. Amedia was set to acquire a 66.9 percent stake, while Nord-Trøndelag was set to acquire 8 percent; the Norwegian Agrarian Association retained 25 percent.

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1. Tun Media