Mainz – September 13, 2026 -- German broadcaster ZDF and Swiss broadcaster SRF launched a new international leadership forum, the Streamium Days, bringing executives from public and private media companies across Europe together at ZDF's Mainz headquarters on September 7-8, 2026.
ZDF director calls turnout beyond expectations
Dr. Florian Kumb, Director Audience at ZDF, said the event exceeded expectations in every respect, citing the openness of discussions and participants' willingness to share knowledge and experience. He described the media industry as being in the midst of profound change, making cross-border learning and shared responses to digital transformation increasingly urgent.
Sessions targeted platform strategy and AI-driven distribution
Keynotes, panels and workshops addressed how media houses reach audiences in a platform-driven digital environment, the role of data and artificial intelligence in content strategy, and how companies can accelerate innovation by learning from one another. The agenda covered platform strategy, audience engagement, personalization, AI applications, digital distribution, YouTube strategy, community building and the transformation of linear content for streaming platforms, alongside cooperation models between media companies and technology partners.
Format prioritized closed-door executive dialogue over broadcast content
The event was structured specifically for leadership-level attendees, creating space for direct, peer-level discussion rather than public programming. Organizers highlighted the resulting cross-border contacts as a key outcome, noting new connections for cooperation and idea exchange across organizational and national boundaries.
ZDF-SRF partnership frames shared public-broadcasting agenda
The collaboration between ZDF and SRF centered on a shared goal: actively shaping digital transformation while maintaining the public-service broadcasting mandate in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.