Burda vs Ströer

Karin Grassl Appointed Editor-in-Chief at Blue Ocean

Karin Grassl has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Blue Ocean Entertainment's 'PreSchool' and 'InSchool' divisions, overseeing 25 magazines including 'Prinzessin Lillifee', 'Bibi & Tina', and 'Lissy'. She succeeded Sandra Peter, who left the company of her own accord after 18 years. Grassl previously led the animal magazine division and had roles at Dino Entertainment and Panini Verlag. Additionally, Sven Röttger has been named Chief Digital Officer and Chief Technical Officer, a newly created position focused on technology and digital innovation. Blue Ocean, majority-owned by Burda since 2014, publishes 90 regular titles for children.

• Karin Grassl is new Editor-in-Chief for PreSchool and InSchool divisions at Blue Ocean Entertainment.
• Sandra Peter leaves Blue Ocean after 18 years of service.
• Sven Röttger becomes Chief Digital Officer and Chief Technical Officer.

Travel Spending Rises as Consumers Prioritize Experiences

A new report highlights a shift in consumer behavior where travel is prioritized over material goods, driven by rising living costs and economic uncertainty. Data shows that 49% of Gen Z and Millennials took at least two longer trips in 2025, and over half of Gen Z plan to increase their travel budget in 2026. German summer travel spending is expected to rise by 2.4%. The trend extends to luxury, where experiences like travel and events grow faster than traditional luxury goods. For travel brands, the implication is to create desire through high-quality editorial content and visuals, making experiences tangible to consumers. The article is based on a study by Burda Verlag.

• 49% of Gen Z and Millennials took at least two longer trips in 2025.
• Over half of Gen Z plan a higher travel budget for 2026.
• German summer travel spending expected to rise by 2.4% in 2026.

Travel Affiliate Marketing 2026: Why Last Click No Longer Suffices

MAI xpose360 has released a whitepaper arguing that affiliate marketing in the travel sector must move beyond last-click attribution. As travel customer journeys become more complex, bookings often result from multiple touchpoints including search engines, social media, creators, comparison portals, blogs, and AI-based search systems. According to the MAI xpose360 Affiliate-Marketing-Trendreport 2026, 71% of surveyed advertisers rank affiliate among their strongest sales channels. However, a survey of nine travel advertisers shows incrementality is often only estimated rather than precisely measured. An analysis of about 5,000 'Best Product' prompts reveals that affiliate and product review pages are highly visible in AI-generated answers. The report recommends measuring assisted conversions and incrementality, managing publishers by function, monitoring AI visibility, providing publishers with better data, and integrating creators into affiliate programs.

• MAI xpose360 published the whitepaper 'Travel – Affiliate-Marketing: Mehr als der letzte Klick'.
• 71% of surveyed advertisers in the MAI xpose360 Affiliate-Marketing-Trendreport 2026 count affiliate marketing among their strongest revenue channels.
• A survey of nine travel advertisers found that incrementality is considered but often based on estimates.

The Lighthouse Hamburg: Deutschlands größte Immersive-DOOH-Installation startet mit PENNY und Hyundai durch

Ströer and its subsidiary Blow Up Media have launched 'The Lighthouse' at Hamburg's Spielbudenplatz, which began regular operation on October 1. This immersive DOOH installation spans over 530 square meters, featuring three high-resolution screens, digital ambient architecture, and a 3D round-corner for anamorphic effects. Ströer claims it is Germany's largest LED screen installation and its first 'immersive DOOH screen.' Initial advertisers PENNY and Hyundai alternate campaigns hourly. PENNY's campaign integrates a QR-code-based coupon hunt with its app and nearby store, while Hyundai's 3D showcase launches the electric Ioniq 3 in Germany. The installation is now fully operational, positioning Ströer at the forefront of digital out-of-home advertising in the country.

• The Lighthouse DOOH installation went live on October 1, 2026 in Hamburg.
• The installation covers over 530 square meters with multiple screens and 3D effects.
• Penny and Hyundai are the first advertisers, alternating campaigns hourly.

Ströer unterstützt Berliner Verein Straßenkinder mit Pro-bono-Kampagne „Briefe an die BUTZE“

Ströer unterstützt den Berliner Verein Straßenkinder mit einer Pro-bono-Kampagne namens „Briefe an die BUTZE“.

Dyn and Ströer Bring Handball Highlights to DOOH Screens

Sports streaming platform Dyn has partnered with out-of-home advertising specialist Ströer to display automated handball highlights from the German Handball Bundesliga on Ströer's digital screens across Germany, including at train stations and airports. The partnership, which began with the 2026/27 handball season, uses cloud technology, AI, and Dyn's Content Desk to deliver regionalized content, showing local club highlights and scores. This initiative aims to combine live sports content with digital out-of-home advertising, offering brands new integration opportunities for regional or nationwide campaigns. The collaboration enhances Dyn's content reach and provides Ströer with premium sports content to attract advertisers.

• Partnership between Dyn and Ströer announced for the 2026/27 handball season.
• Short handball highlight clips from the Bundesliga are displayed on Ströer's digital screens nationwide.
• Content is automated and regionalized based on location, showing local club highlights and results.