NEM Dubrovnik 2026 kicks off its second day today, cementing its position as one of the leading events in the CEE audiovisual industry. With over 1000 executives, 200 buyers, and a hundred exhibitors gathered at the Dubrovnik Palace Hotel, the market organized by Mediavision once again became a key platform for discussing the present and future of the European audiovisual business. Discussions on the opening day highlighted an industry focused on three major themes: new partnerships between broadcasters and global platforms, investment in original European content, and corporate consolidation.

One of the day’s most significant panels was “Three Media Trends Powered by the European Audiovisual Observatory.” There, executives and analysts agreed that the historic competition between linear television and streaming is giving way to increasingly frequent models of collaboration. Recent agreements between global platforms and European broadcasters reflect a new era in which co-productions, licensing, and distribution partnerships are taking center stage.

Christian Grece, Senior Analyst at the European Audiovisual Observatory, emphasized that the discussion is no longer about whether broadcasters and streamers should partner, but rather under what conditions those relationships are developed. He also highlighted the growing role of platforms such as YouTube within the distribution strategies of European audiovisual groups to reach new audiences.

Investment in original European content was another key topic. The data presented revealed the existing gap between Western Europe and CEE markets. While investment in Western Europe exceeds 23 billion euros, in Central and Eastern Europe it stands at around 1.4 billion. In this region, private broadcasters remain the main driver of local production, while the involvement of streamers remains limited.

Sanja Božić-Ljubičić, CEO at Pickbox, Mediatranslations, Mediavision, and NEM, noted that market fragmentation remains one of the main challenges for the region, where linguistic diversity and the size of the territories make it difficult to achieve economies of scale.

Consolidation was the third major focus of the discussion. Mergers and acquisitions led by international groups were presented as a tool for competing against global entertainment giants, although experts cautioned about the challenges that greater market concentration could pose to diversity and competition.

In terms of content, the showcases confirmed the continued relevance of international formats and adaptations. Global Agency presented "One Night Only", an adaptation of the hit drama "1001 Nights", while, Globo showcased its international strategy with titles such as "Anything Goes", "The Best Side of Life", and "Three Graces", among others. In addition, Rodrigo Nascimento announced that the Brazilian company plans to launch more than 50 vertical dramas this year, and they presented some Globoplay originals, such as "Single Together" and "Emergency 53". The day also included a presentation by Fremantle, which previewed part of its catalog of dramas, documentaries, and formats for 2026.

What are buyers looking for? Among the buyers present in Dubrovnik, demands continue to be varied. Andreja Sertic, managing director of Media Acquisitions (Croatia), is looking for series, films, animation, and documentaries. Alaudin Hamiti, content director at ArtMotion (Kosovo), is looking for action, thriller, and horror films, as well as romantic series and telenovelas from Turkey, Spain, and the U.S. Meanwhile, Barbara Kosecka, acquisition manager at TVN Warner Bros International Television (Poland), is looking for factual programming, entertainment, and telenovelas.

Francisco Ferreyra, from Dubrovnik

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