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NEM Dubrovnik has announced the first wave of industry leaders set to take the stage for its upcoming edition. Scheduled to run from June 8th to 11th, the event is preparing for its largest gathering to date, serving as a vital knowledge hub for professionals across the European media landscape.

Decision-makers from free-to-air broadcasters, pay-TV channels, and global streaming platforms will descend upon the coastal city to discuss the latest innovations and market trends. The initial lineup features a diverse group of experts, including Avi Armoza, CEO, Armoza Formats; Christian Grece, Analyst, European Audiovisual Observatory; Grégoire Polad, Director General, ACT; Izabella Wiley, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Central & Eastern Europe, Hearst Networks EMEA; Katarina Pavlović, Program Director, Prva TV and B92.

Additionally, Maria Rua Aguete, Head of M&E, Technology Fellow, Omdia; Sam Barnett, Chief Executive Officer, Central European Media Enterprises (CME); Stella Litou, CEO, RTL Croatia and Pro Plus Slovenia; Timothy Oh, General Manager, COL Group Internationa, and Vanda Rapti, EVP, Viaplay Select & Content Distribution, Viaplay Group will participate at the event.

Confirmed keynote speaker Sam Barnett, CEO of Central European Media Enterprises (CME), emphasized the value of the gathering: "The pressures on media businesses in Central and Eastern Europe are real: costs are rising, audiences have more choices than ever, and the global platforms aren't standing still. But the opportunities are real too. Companies that know their markets, invest properly in making local content at world-class level, and make broadcast and streaming work together rather than against each other are in a strong position, and that's what we're focused on at CME. I'm glad to be part of NEM, a place where the people who actually run the industry come together, and that makes it one of the most useful conversations of the year."

Other participants also expressed their expectations for the event’s unique atmosphere. Christian Grece, Analyst at the European Audiovisual Observatory, noted: “NEM Dubrovnik has always been where deals are made and strategies are tested, and I look forward to contributing the evidence base that can sharpen those conversations. My expectation is that an audience of senior buyers, broadcasters and streamers will leave not only with a clearer picture of where the European market stands, but with sharper questions about where it is heading. I am looking forward to a session that pairs the evidence with the experience.”

Stella Litou, CEO of Pro Plus Slovenia and RTL Croatia, highlighted the balance of data and intuition in leadership: “I’m delighted to be part of NEM Dubrovnik this year and to exchange ideas with such an inspiring lineup of speakers. Great leadership today requires both the ability to follow strategy and trust data, but in the media business, which is a highly complex and dynamic environment, decisions are sometimes also shaped by instinct and mostly by years of experience. Ultimately, both strategy and instinct must serve one goal: to understand and connect with audiences, and to create content that truly resonates with them.”

Reflecting on the evolving formats business, Avi Armoza, CEO of Armoza Formats, added: “The formats business is being reshaped by a more demanding market: tighter economics, new viewing habits, fiercer competition for attention, and a growing need for formats that are not only creative, but scalable and resilient. The recent shifts across the media landscape have made leadership more complex than ever. We need intuition to spot the next opportunity, but we also need strategy to build ideas and partnerships that can travel and endure. That is exactly why NEM Dubrovnik matters: it brings the industry together to exchange perspectives, challenge assumptions and look for the partnerships and strategies that will shape what comes next.”