2015-05-13

Measuring the world of media – This was the MEDIA CONVENTION Berlin 2015

The second edition of the MEDIA CONVENTION Berlin from 5th till 6th May 2015 saw 150 participants discuss trends, strategies, revenue models and media policy in 49 sessions and events. Organized by the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, three stages were utilized at the STATION-Berlin in cooperation with the Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg (mabb) and the re:publica.

Permanent change of the media industry was mirrored in the diversity of the speakers present: The MEDIA CONVENTION brought together many different personalities such as the founder of Netflix Reed Hastings, ARD director Lutz Marmor, the political and media activists from Pussy Riot, YouTube star LeFloid, Springer manager Christoph Keese, blogger Stefan Niggemeier, Secretary of State Brigitte Zypries, undercover journalist Günter Wallraff, sociologist Prof. Dr. Harald Welzer, head of Sky Deutschland Marcus Ammon, and the actress Meret Becker.

One of the many highlights was a presentation by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. On Tuesday afternoon, he told an audience of almost 2000 how he envisions the future of digital entertainment and told of his plans for Netflix in Germany, Europe and the world. 

[video:https://youtu.be/Mzk-iL8KC9o]

Further sessions at the MEDIA CONVENTION Berlin dealt with the future of the moving image itself. Discussions took place debating which video strategies big online players use, how to earn money on youtube, how tv and print are merging and which questions need to be answered regarding regulations for new media platforms.

As part of the "Your Turn" Video Creator Contest six winners received a cash prize worth a total of 70,000 Euros. They will also get the opportunity to participate in workshops at the newly opened YouTube Space Berlin where they will have access to cameras, editing suites and a greenbox to produce their videos. Your Turn is the first public and privately funded Youtube competition in Germany which is independent of a network. It was organized by Endemol beyond, sponsored by the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and supported by Youtube.

On both evenings, fans of the series "Game of Thrones" were invited to view the first episode of the fifth season free of charge and gamers were given a chance at Let's Play Live. At the Exhibition Space of the MEDIA CONVENTION, visitors were able to try out innovative technologies from the tv, web, transmedia, mobile and games sector, ranging from virtual reality over branded video publishing to automated animation and the future of gaming.

Find the best pictures of the congress here. More info at: www.mediaconventionberlin.com

[caption]From left to right: The speakers of the "Making Money on YouTube" talk – Jens-Uwe Bornemann, Xi Chen, Melissa Lee, Florian Mundt und Jeannine Michaelsen; photo: Sebastian Grabsch © MEDIA CONVENTION[/caption]