FormatBiz | NEM Dubrovnik 2024 Closed with Record Attendance

NEM Dubrovnik 2024, the market with a view, began with great enthusiasm at the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace with four fully days of panels and screenings. This year's focus was on the synergy of content, telecommunications, and technology, with a special emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI). The event has attracted representatives from more than 260 companies worldwide, including over 150 buyers, marking a record number of exhibitors, sponsors, and other attendees. The four-day event has been the hub of learning, networking, and business opportunities, particularly for the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region and beyond.

On the fist day (Monday, June 10, 2024), the audience was captivated by the first keynote Q&A session featuring Nataša Rapaić, Member of the Management Board and COO Residential at Croatian Telecom, who will assume the role of CEO on July 1. Moderated by Sanja Božić-Ljubičić, CEO of Pickbox, Mediatranslations, Mediavision, and NEM, the interview delved into Rapaić’s vision for the future of the telco industry. Rapaić shared her experiences and insights from her 20-year journey with Croatian Telecom, emphasizing the importance of emotional connection in television: “TV is obviously based on content, and content is crucial for differentiation. But it's not only about content; it's also crucial to build an emotional connection.”

The event continued with a content showcase by IDTV, an All3Media company, featuring hits like "The Traitors" and "Lingo," as well as their latest format "The Unknown." Educational sessions included presentations from Omdia, PlumResearch, and Maria Valenzuela on AI’s role in media, highlighting its impact on content creation, audience engagement, and international distribution (see the article Maria Aguete Checked The AI Temperature)

The first panel, "Strategies for Worldwide Success of CEE Content," sponsored by NEM Zagreb, featured insights from RTL Hungary, Warner Bros. Discovery, Danna Stern, and Natalija Gorščak. Another significant panel, "The Art of Content Acquisition," sponsored by Prva TV, offered innovative approaches tailored to specific countries, with experts from Ampere Analysis, Czech Television, Mediawan Rights, and Latvian Television.

A major highlight was Warner Bros. Discovery’s welcome party celebrating the Max streaming service, now available across 25 countries in Europe and 65 globally. Jamie Cooke, Group SVP and GM CEE, Middle East, and Turkey, further discussed the service's expansion plans in a Q&A session.

Throughout the event, various sessions focused on cutting-edge technology and the evolving TV industry. Monty Sarhan, CEO of SkyShowtime, shared insights into their ad-supported plan, emphasizing consumer choice and flexibility. Lionsgate, Keshet International, and TV NOVA/VOYO presented new content, including the series "Fake" and the spy thriller "Extractors."

Networking events, such as Paramount Global Content Distribution’s Happy Hour and Wurl’s Evening Reception at Vala Beach, provided relaxed settings for attendees to connect.

Finally, the celebration of Pickbox's 10th anniversary highlighted a decade of success in the CEE market.