NEM Dubrovnik officially opens its 2026 edition today under the slogan “TV with a market view,” establishing a new milestone as the central meeting point for the audiovisual industry in CEE. This year, the market experiences an unprecedented fifty percent increase in its overall capacity compared to the previous cycle, gathering more than 300 companies, over 200 regional buyers, and around 150 exhibitors.

Driven by this significant expansion, the organization has introduced a major logistical novelty for 2026: the launch of the "Adriatic Area" at the Dubrovnik Palace Hotel, a dedicated hub for business meetings and strategic networking that joins the traditional Sunset and Mare exhibition spaces. The event’s core themes reflect a highly competitive global landscape, shifting the conversation from simple content transactions to critical structural challenges, including digital monetization, corporate mega-mergers, the vertical micro-drama phenomenon, and the hybrid coexistence of OTT, IP, and satellite distribution networks, with top decision-makers from companies such as The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, CME, Canal+, AMC Networks, Paramount, TVN, Antenna Group, and Hearst Networks.

Reflecting on this journey, Sanja Božić-Ljubičić, CEO of Pickbox, Mediatranslations, Mediavision, and NEM, states: ‘What began as a regional market focused on the Eastern European television ecosystem is now positioned as a strategic platform for global discussion on distribution, streaming, monetization, and the transformation of the audiovisual business’.

The official program kicks off this afternoon with the "NEM Kickoff: Three Media Trends" session, powered by the European Audiovisual Observatory, where Senior analyst Christian Grece moderates an opening debate featuring ACT director general Grégoire Polad, Ampere Analysis executive director Guy Bisson, and Božić-Ljubičić, to dissects the emergence of new partnership models between traditional broadcasters and global streaming services, the stark disparity in original European content investments between the CEE region and Western Europe, and the direct impact of market consolidation across the territory.

Immediately following this industry session, the afternoon transitions into targeted content showcases. Senay Tas, sales director for CEE and Greece at Global Agency, leads with a presentation of "One Night Only", a new format adapted from the globally successful drama "1001 Nights". This is followed by a showcase from Brazilian giant Globo, where Rodrigo Nascimento, head of the international business hub for EMEA, and Karen Pinho from content distribution and partnerships, detail their strategy for building audience communities through telenovelas, series, and formats. Following a panel sponsored by Globo titled "What Makes a Long-Term Buyer-Seller Relationship Work?". Moderated by BBC News presenter Kasia Madera, bringing together top executives including Igor Draguzet, chief content officer of CME; Rahela Štefanović, editor-in-chief of HTV for Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT); Jan Maxa, director of content and production at FTV Prima; Slawomir Cyra, programming director of Cyfrowy Polsat S.A.; and Nascimento. The session addresses how, even in an era dominated by global scale, cost optimizations, and AI integration, transparency and personal trust remain the most valuable currencies for establishing sustainable commercial ties.

Today’ program concludes with an exclusive showcase and celebration drinks hosted by Fremantle, where Anahita Kheder, EVP of EMEA formats, introduces the company’s prime drama, documentary, and format hits for 2026 alongside regional directors Andrea Gavacova, Anne Kirsipuu, and Anna Maslowska, setting a collaborative tone for the rest of the market.

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