E.ON vs Verivox

YouTube Festival 2026: Brands See 90% More ROI Than TV

At the YouTube Festival 2026 in Berlin, Google executives and brand marketers highlighted YouTube's growing importance in media planning. Philipp Justus, Google's VP Central Europe, emphasized YouTube's cultural influence, while Marianne Stroehmann presented data showing 90% more ROI compared to TV. Case studies from E.ON and Nestlé demonstrated successful creator collaborations and the effectiveness of YouTube in driving brand consideration and conversions. Bayer's media planning with Display & Video 360 increased reach from 45% to 67%. The event underscored a paradigm shift from traditional TV advertising to creator-driven, culturally embedded content on YouTube.

• Google's YouTube Festival 2026 took place in Berlin on September 17, 2026.
• YouTube reportedly delivers 90% more ROI than TV according to Google.
• E.ON's reality series 'House of Power' increased brand consideration by 2 percentage points.

E.ON CEO Proposes Drone Protection for German Power Grid

In a weekly newsletter covering multiple German business topics, the lead story focuses on E.ON CEO Leonhard Birnbaum's proposal to enhance the protection of Germany's power grid infrastructure against sabotage. He suggests increased video surveillance of facilities and a more flexible use of drones. The newsletter also highlights a potential strike by 12,000 Micron employees in Taiwan, updates on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, management changes at Puma, rising mortgage rates in Germany, the start of a podcast about Deutsche Bahn's CEO, and a feature on the booming secondary market for startup shares, including those of AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.

• E.ON CEO Leonhard Birnbaum proposes using drones and more video surveillance to protect Germany's power grid.
• E.ON owns about one-third of Germany's distribution network, roughly 700,000 kilometers of power lines.
• Around 12,000 Micron employees in Taiwan threaten to strike over profit-sharing.

BNPL Surges for Large Purchases

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is gaining significant traction for larger online purchases. According to a representative Verivox survey, 15% of respondents would now prefer to pay for an online purchase over 1,000 euros in installments, up from 9% in 2024. This is the strongest growth among common payment methods. Invoice remains the most popular (29%), followed by PayPal (21%) and cards (14%). The trend is particularly pronounced among lower-income households, with 23% of those earning under 2,000 euros net monthly favoring installments, versus only 7% of those earning over 4,000 euros. However, the rise in BNPL usage also increases the risk of over-indebtedness. New stricter regulations on installment financing, including comprehensive creditworthiness checks, will take effect from November 20. For smaller purchases (25-100 euros), PayPal remains dominant, and installments are rarely used.

• 15% of respondents prefer installment payment for online purchases over 1,000 euros, up from 9% in 2024.
• Invoice (29%) and PayPal (21%) are the most preferred payment methods for large purchases.
• 23% of households with net income below 2,000 euros prefer installment payments, versus 7% of households earning over 4,000 euros.

Anschlussfinanzierung: Rate steigt um knapp 400 Euro – Zinsvergleich kann bis zu 10.000 Euro sparen

Verivox reports that the monthly rate for follow-up financing (Anschlussfinanzierung) is rising by nearly 400 euros, but a comparison of interest rates can save up to 10,000 euros.

Digital Daily Use Varies by Age and Income in Germany

A Verivox survey reveals that despite near-universal device ownership (99% have smartphones, 98% have laptops/PCs), a significant portion of Germans still perform everyday tasks offline. 10% do banking without internet, 16% plan trips offline, and 17% close contracts without digital tools. Usage patterns vary strongly by age, gender, and income: older adults (60+) are more likely to do tasks offline, women prefer smartphones more than men, and higher income/education correlates with laptop use. Shopping and online research are highly digitalized across all groups.

• 10% of Germans conduct banking without internet, 16% plan travel offline, and 17% close contracts without digital devices.
• 99% of respondents own a smartphone; 98% own a laptop or PC.
• Among those over 60, 32% close contracts offline, 26% plan vacations without digital help, and 28% do not use social networks.