dfv Mediengruppe vs Handelsblatt Research Institut

Ahead uses community and creators to reshape snacks

D2C snack brand Ahead is featured in HORIZONT's "Un:filtered" series, where co-founder and CEO Philip Brohlburg discusses the company's move from direct-to-consumer into grocery retail, its mission to normalise lower-sugar diets, and the strategic role of its community and creators who are integrated into the team. The article appears as part of the HORIZONT x Social Match Un:filtered collaboration and includes commentary from Martin Wroblewski of Social Match by We Are Era.

• Article published by HORIZONT Online on 2026-08-31.
• Ahead is described as a D2C company aiming to make lower-sugar nutrition the norm and to offer alternatives to classic confectionery.
• Philip Brohlburg is identified as Co-Founder and CEO of Ahead and is the interviewee in the Un:filtered episode.

Vodafone and BVB AI‑recreate 1963 Bundesliga Goal

Published by HORIZONT on August 29, 2026, Vodafone, Borussia Dortmund (BVB), and creative agency Jung von Matt have launched an AI-driven campaign titled 'The Unseen Goal' to reconstruct the Bundesliga's first-ever goal, scored in 1963 by Timo Konietzka. Since no original video or photographic footage of the historic moment exists, the team generated the moving images using artificial intelligence, leveraging historical media reports, weather simulation models, and interviews with eyewitnesses, including the scorer's brother. The reconstructed video debuted via a documentary at the BVB museum, on Sky Sports News, and on the YouTube channels of BVB and Vodafone. It was also shown on stadium screens during Dortmund's season opener. The campaign will continue to run across digital platforms, social media, print, and soccer podcasts in Germany, with Sky serving as the exclusive media partner.

• Vodafone, Borussia Dortmund (BVB), and agency Jung von Matt launched 'The Unseen Goal' campaign to reconstruct the first-ever Bundesliga goal from 1963 using AI.
• The historic goal by Timo Konietzka had no existing photographic or video records prior to this project.
• The creative team utilized eyewitness accounts, weather simulation models, and archive records to accurately generate the moving images.

Digital Receipt Mandate Threatened from 2028

Germany's Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) plans to end paper sales receipts from 2028 and replace them with a mandatory digital receipt. The proposal would require retailers to provide an electronic receipt for every sale. Trade associations and retailers are urging instead for a full abolition of the receipt requirement. The article, published by Lebensmittelzeitung (DFV Mediengruppe) on 28 August 2026, outlines the forthcoming policy shift and the retailers' opposition, which could have wide implications for point-of-sale systems, payment providers, and retail data capture.

• Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) plans to abolish paper receipts and introduce a mandatory digital receipt starting in 2028.
• The proposed rule would require retailers to provide an electronic receipt for every sale.
• Retail industry representatives are calling for the complete abolition of the receipt obligation instead of a digital mandate.

FAZ, SZ, Zeit, Handelsblatt announce joint ad sales merger plans

The publishers of leading German newspapers including FAZ, Handelsblatt, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and Die Zeit have formally applied to Germany's Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) to establish a joint advertising sales house. This move, initially reported by HORIZONT in May 2026, advances earlier preparations. The new entity aims to bundle the publishers' reach, offering advertisers a unified access point and strengthening their competitive position against global digital and AI platforms. Each publisher would hold a 25% stake, consolidating existing structures such as IQ Digital, IQ Media, and the Republic joint venture. The application, filed on October 16, 2026, requires approval from the Bundeskartellamt, and the launch timeline remains uncertain.

• The publishers of FAZ, Handelsblatt, SZ, and ZEIT have applied to the Bundeskartellamt to form a joint advertising sales house.
• Each publisher is planned to hold a 25% stake in the new joint venture.
• Existing structures IQ Digital, IQ Media, and the Republic joint venture are to be consolidated into the new entity.

Andrea Wasmuth, Sebastian Christensen und Stefan Buhr leiten Holtzbrinck Media

Zum 01. Januar 2027 übernehmen Andrea Wasmuth, bislang Vorsitzende der Geschäftsführung der Handelsblatt Media Group und der DvH Medien, Sebastian Christensen, Geschäftsführer der Handelsblatt Media Group, und Stefan Buhr, Geschäftsführer der Tagesspiegel Gruppe, die Geschäftsführung der Holtzbrinck Media. Andrea Wasmuth wird Vorsitzende der Geschäftsführung.

Holtzbrinck Media Names Leadership Trio for New Group

The leadership team for the newly formed integrated publishing group Holtzbrinck Media has been announced. The group, created from the merger of Handelsblatt Media Group, Tagesspiegel Group, and Dieter von Holtzbrinck Medien, will launch on January 1, 2027. Andrea Wasmuth, previously head of Handelsblatt, will chair the management trio, joined by Sebastian Christensen and Stefan Buhr. Christensen, a managing director at Handelsblatt since 2023, and Buhr, Tagesspiegel's managing director since April 2025, bring complementary expertise. Nicolas Köhn, Tagesspiegel's co-managing director, will depart at year-end after leading its digital growth, increasing Tagesspiegel Plus subscriptions from around 30,000 to over 50,000. The new team aims to combine strengths for a modern media house, following publisher Dieter von Holtzbrinck's decision to consolidate his holdings and sell his 50% stake in 'Zeit'.

• Holtzbrinck Media will be formed on January 1, 2027, from Handelsblatt Media Group, Tagesspiegel Group, and Dieter von Holtzbrinck Medien.
• Andrea Wasmuth will chair the management board, joined by Sebastian Christensen and Stefan Buhr.
• Nicolas Köhn will step down as managing director of Tagesspiegel Group at the end of 2026.