A closer look at DIS 2016 as Early Bird deadline looms

With digital media evolving at an incredible pace, new platforms and business models emerge all the time. Sometimes it is hard to keep up with all the change, and not all the answers are to be found at your desk…

That’s why FIPP and VDZ’s Digital Innovators’ Summit (DIS), held in Berlin, Germany, has become a feature event in the calendar year – providing an intensive, focused programme allowing you to take stock of where you are, learn what’s coming next and most importantly what to do about it.

The next DIS takes place on 20-22 March, with main speaker programme on the 21st and 22nd, and is a must for anyone in the B2C and B2B media industries. A record number of delegates from 28 countries have already registered for DIS 2016.

You have the chance to join them at our heavily discounted Early Bird rate – ending 31 January.

Sign up todayhttp://www.innovators-summit.com/no_cache/dis-register/ -- it will save you hundreds of Euros on final delegate rates.

Here's more about what to expect from the programme, speakers, attendees and DIS add-on experiences to make attending the event a productive, unforgettable event.

The programme
Over the years, the DIS has been established as the place in Europe to hear about the future of media and technology from the innovators who are driving change. 2016 will be no different, offering 3 stages with individual presentations, panels and fireside chats and specialist deep-dives. Including:

1. Stories of digital transformation from the likes of Hearst, Schibsted and Time Inc. – hear first-hand about the strategies they employ to proceed along their transformational paths, from creating a symbiosis between media and tech, adopting 3rd party partnerships and investing in new plays
2. Insights into acquisition strategies as a means for transformation and growth – hear from VC and media investors on how they identify, capitalise and support digital ventures
3. Strategies for developing digital revenue streams – from branded content to programmatic advertising, from paid content, subscriptions and membership to applied data, content recommendation and more
4. Thoughts on distributed content and audience engagement strategies – considering the opportunities and risks – and developments across mobile, including Google’s AMP project, Axel Springer’s upday and more
5. Innovation in journalism and content – from visual (video and other) and disruptive storytelling to live streaming, virtual reality and 360º videos, from podcasting, to wearables, drones and more
6. Strategies for developing digital brands – from broadening global footprints, to engaging millennial audiences and to developing vertical plays to integrate brands deeper into various aspects of consumers’ lives
7. Insights into the innovation characteristics of the most progressive pureplays in the world, a look at top media innovation themes worldwide, and toolkits to drive innovation within your organisations

See the preliminary programme here and read what previous DIS attendees have to say about the value of attending DIS here.

The speakers
Delegates will hear from 40+ business leaders and practitioners at legacy and pureplay media companies, innovators at platform plays and top experts in media and related fields. Not only is it an opportunity to spend two days hearing from many businesses and brands, but also from speakers from a range of markets around the world. Here are some of the speakers who will be on stage.

1. Duncan Edwards, President and CEO, Hearst Magazines International, USA
2. Redg Snodgrass, CEO, ReadWrite, and CEO and co-founder Wearable World, USA
3. Chris Altcheck, CEO and co-founder, Mic, USA
4. Colin Bodell, EVP and Chief Technology Officer, Time Inc., USA
5. Yulia Boyle, SVP International Publishing, National Geographic, USA
6. Andy Bowers, Chief Content Officer, Panoply – Slate Network, USA
7. Patrick de Laive, Co-founder, The Next Web, The Netherlands
8. Kate Ward, VP International, Refinery29, UK
9. Tim Pool, Director of Media Innovation, Fusion, USA
10. Nick Harthan, Global Partnerships, Google, Singapore
11. Evan Ratliff, CEO and Co-founder, Atavist, USA
12. Sam Olstein, Global Director of Innovation, GE, USA
13. Mark Cripps, EVP Digital and Brand, The Economist, UK
14. Kaylee King-Balentine, Director of T-Brand Studio International, The New York Times, USA
15. Matt Kominski, Executive Editor, POLITICO Europe, Belgium
16. Olivier Royant, Editor-in-Chief, Paris Match, France
17. Henry Finder, Executive Editor, The New Yorker, USA
18. Jay Stevens, GM International, Rubicon Project, UK
19. Jana Moser, Head of Data Innovation, Axel Springer, Germany
20. Renée Kaplan, Head of Audience, FT, UK
21. Marcus Schunk, CEO, Holtzbrinck Digital, and EVP, Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, Germany
22. Lucy Küng, author and Research Fellow at the Reuters Institute of Journalism at Oxford University, Switzerland
23. Tanja Aitamurto, Deputy Director, The Brown Institute for Media Innovation at Stanford University, USA
24. Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer, Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA
25.  Julian Artopé, Director, Ringier Africa, Kenya

See the list of speakers so far confirmed here, with more to be announced soon.

Join them in Berlin. Sign up with our Early Bird rate before 31 January to save.

The attendees
Senior executives from media businesses, technology innovators and solution providers converge at DIS in Berlin to share ideas, learn about emerging trends and see new concepts in action.
 
This is premium conference, attracting over 600 senior executives from over 35 countries who congregate in Berlin, a vibrant, always evolving city that is also at the heart of Europe’s startup culture.

The quality of audience allows for top, face-to-face networking experiences, often as an important part of the Summit as is the programme.

To date we have had a record number of registrations (compared to the same time in previous years), from 28 countries, for DIS 2016. Join them now and save with our Early Bird discounted rate – only available until 31 January.

The experience
Apart from the top-notch programme and international speakers, delegates also have the option to book for add-on experiences such as:

• Our Meet the Founder Tour of Berlin Startups or Alternative Berlin Experience (both on Sunday afternoon 20 March)
• Opening Drinks (Sunday evening 20 March)
• DIS Late Redefined (Monday evening 21 March) (There are unfortunately no more places left for DIS Late Refined)

Remember, our Early Bird offer ends on 31 January. Don’t miss out. Sign up for DIS 2016 today

For more information, including how to save more if you book a delegation to the DIS, contact Anja Mumm at A.Mumm[at]vdz.de.

We hope to see you in Berlin!