The beginning
Christian Schibsted started the newspaper Christiania Adresseblad in 1860, using spare resources in his publishing company. The newspaper quickly transformed the new-born paper into Aftenposten, a paper that is very much alive today.
Christian Schibsted's son, Amandeus, was a boon to the paper with his excellent journalism skill. He made Aftenposten what it is today. Respectable, honest and leading. He was also in charge of the renewal process Aftenposten successfully completed before his death. When he died in 1913, his wife Trine adopted the role as the leader of the publishing company. She did an excellent job until her death in 1933, when their two daughters Gudrun and Hildur continued the work as publishing company leaders.
The boom
Schibsted bought the newly founded newspaper VG in 1966, when VG had serious financial problems. VG expanded their desk and changed their format to tabloid. Within a few years, the circulation passed their main competition Dagbladet. From 1972 and on, VG spearheaded the success of the company.
Schibsted is one of the leading publishing companies in Europe. They entered the internet era by bying Oslonett and changed the name to Schibsted Nett. Functioning mainly as an ISP, they shifted the focus to the news and portal section, with the Scandinavia Online (SOL) portal system. SOL is now sold to other stock holders. They have stocks in Aftenposten, VG, Aftonbladet, Eesti Media, 20 Minuten, Sandrew Metronome, TV2, Bladkompaniet and a lot of other smaller companies. Schibsted is quickly becoming an Evil EmpireTM.
Here's a table of the different media Schibsted have stocks in or own (Main companies in bold, their daugther companies are listed dirctly below their owner):
TV and film media
Metronome Film & Television AB
Meter Film & Television AB
Meter Fakta AB
Mekano Film & Television AB
Mekaniken Post Production
Rubicon TV AS
Nordic Entertainment AS
Metronome Film & Television Oy
Metronome Productions A/S
Metronome Studios AS
Metronome Spartacus AS
Intrige AS
Big Brother AB
TV 2 Gruppen ASA
Sandrew Metronome AB
Sandrew Metronome International AB
Sandrew Metronome Danmark AS
Sandrew Metronome Finland Oy AB
Sandrew Metronome Distribution Finland Oy
Sandrew Metronome Norge AS
Sandrew Metronome Sverige AB
Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB
Book and magazine publishing
Chr. Schibsteds Forlag AS
Bladkompaniet AS
C. Huitfeldt Forlag AS
Cesam Media AS
Boknöje AB
Pol-Nordica Publishing SP.ZO.O.
Full Stop Media AB
Maison Norge AS
Dagens Medisin AS
Dine Penger AS
Schibsted Internasjonale Bøker AS
SMS Publishing AB
Newspapers and related media
Aftenposten AS
Aftenposten Multimedia AS
FINN.no AS
Mediearkivet.no AS
PrimeTime.net AS
avis1 AS
Verdens Gang AS
VG Multimedia AS
VG TopJobs AS
Avisretur AS
Aftonbladet Hierta AB
Aftonbladet Nya Medier AB
Hierta Venture AB
Svenska Dagbladet Holding AB
20 Min Holding AG
Picture- and news agencies
Scanpix Scandinavia AB
Scanpix Norge AS
Scanpix Sverige AB
Scanpix Danmark / Nordfoto A/S
AS Norsk Telegrambyrå, NTB
Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå AB
Schibsted in Estonia
Eesti Meedia
SL/Öhtuleht
AS Postimees
Estonian Magazine Group
Kroonpress
Kanal 2
Print presses
Tidningstryckarna Aftonbladet/Svenska Dagbladet AB
Schibsted Trykk AS
Multimedia and venture companies
Schibsted Telecom AS
Bokkilden AS
European Media Ventures
Alt om København AS
BiljettDirekt Ticnet AB
ABC Startsiden AS
Crossroads Loyalty Solutions AB
Safetel
Ecomda
Four Seasons Venture
Arts Alliance
Telenor Venture