Just over two months remain until the next edition of NEM Dubrovnik, the region’s largest CEE TV market, and the first lineup of speaker and keynote announcements has been unveiled, offering an early look at the top industry experts heading to Dubrovnik.

Some of the confirmed speakers and keynotes, listed alphabetically, include:

Avi Armoza, CEO, Armoza Formats
Christian Grece, European Television and On-demand Audiovisual Markets 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
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
Vanda Rapti, EVP, Viaplay Select & Content Distribution, Viaplay Group

Confirmed keynote speaker Sam Barnett, CEO of Central European Media Enterprises (CME) highlighted the significance of NEM Dubrovnik: "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."

“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,” said Stella Litou, CEO of Pro Plus Slovenia and RTL Croatia.

“I'm looking forward to being at NEM Dubrovnik and comparing notes with partners and peers from across the region. In a market that’s changing quickly, the real question is what actually lasts - in content, distribution, and the way we use technology. I’m keen to have an honest conversation about what drives sustainable growth, beyond the headlines,” commented Izabella Wiley, SVP & GM, Central & Eastern Europe, Hearst Networks.

“NEM Dubrovnik has grown into one of the most important industry gatherings - a high-energy, positive, constructive market that retains its unique intimate spirit,” Vanda Rapti, EVP, Viaplay Select & Content Distribution, Viaplay Group, said.

„We'll have the honest conversation our industry needs. And there's no better place for this than NEM Dubrovnik. It's a unique market - intimate enough for real conversations, prestigious enough to attract the smartest people in the industry. The networking opportunities and environment make it ideal for the kind of deep, honest discussions that actually move our industry forward,“ said Katarina Pavlović, Program Director, TV Prva | Entertainment Programming Director, B92.

“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,” Avi Armoza, CEO, Armoza Formats, noted.