HORIZONT vs OMR

L'Oréal Paris Names Kristen Bell Global Ambassador

L'Oréal Paris has appointed Emmy-nominated actress and producer Kristen Bell as a global brand ambassador. Bell will represent L’Oréal Paris across skincare, haircare, hair color and make-up categories. The announcement places her among existing L’Oréal testimonials including Gillian Anderson, Heidi Klum, Kendall Jenner and Charles Leclerc. The article was published by HORIZONT.AT (dfv Mediengruppe) on August 25, 2026 and authored by Nora Halwax.

• L'Oréal Paris appointed Kristen Bell as a global brand ambassador.
• Kristen Bell will represent L'Oréal Paris's skincare, haircare, hair-coloration and make-up categories.
• The article cites other L'Oréal testimonials: Gillian Anderson, Heidi Klum, Kendall Jenner and Charles Leclerc.

ZDF launches 'ZDFtapes' live on Twitch

German public broadcaster ZDF will launch a weekly live format, ZDFtapes, on its Twitch channel from 25 August 2026 at 17:00. Presented by Milo (stage name Aria Addams), the reaction-style livestreams showcase archival clips spanning roughly six decades of ZDF programming. Produced by INSTINCT3 GmbH on a nostalgically designed living-room set, episodes are themed and include live chat interaction, community actions and guest appearances. ZDF frames the show as an experiment in reaction-driven, non-linear social streaming to make public-broadcast archives accessible to younger audiences. Future Terra X–branded spin-offs are planned and may involve Harald Lesch. The launch and format details were reported on 24 August 2026 by MEEDIA and Horizont, with ZDF quoting Milena Seybert (head of Genre- and Channelmanagement FEY).

• ZDFtapes is a weekly live show on ZDF's Twitch channel beginning 25 August 2026 at 17:00.
• Host Milo (stage name Aria Addams) reacts live to archival clips spanning roughly six decades, with themed episodes, live chat interaction, community actions and guest appearances.
• Produced by INSTINCT3 GmbH in a nostalgically designed living-room set; the format experiments with reaction-driven, non-linear social streaming to reach younger audiences.

Ex-Coke Marketer Michael Willeke Joins Paramount

Michael Willeke, the former Vice President Marketing at Coca-Cola, is leaving the beverage company to move into the streaming business at US media group Paramount. The personnel move was reported by Catrin Bialek (HORIZONT) on August 24, 2026. The article states Willeke will begin his new role starting September 1. The story frames the change as a sector switch from consumer beverages to the entertainment/streaming industry.

• Michael Willeke is the former Vice President Marketing at Coca-Cola.
• Willeke will move to the streaming business at US media group Paramount.
• The article reporting the move was authored by Catrin Bialek (HORIZONT).

Reddit founder Steve Huffman, entrepreneur Ann-Katrin Schmitz, tech investor Pip Klöckner: These are the first OMR27 speakers

Reddit founder and CEO Steve Huffman, social media expert and entrepreneur Ann-Katrin Schmitz, as well as tech investor and podcaster Philipp Klöckner are coming to the OMR Festival 2027.

AI Compute Costs Driving SaaS Pricing Model Shifts

A joint study by hy Consulting Group, OMR Reviews, and Appinio, based on 4,400 software profiles, 153 surveys, and 23 expert interviews, reveals that AI compute costs are fundamentally reshaping software pricing. 80% of SaaS and AI companies plan to change their pricing models within a year. AI-native companies command a 21.2x revenue multiple versus 5.5x for traditional SaaS. Pricing is shifting towards hybrid and usage-based models, with 63% expecting hybrid to become most relevant within two years. Per-seat pricing is losing ground, though 40% still use it as primary, while outcome-based models rise. The report also highlights AI's growing role in discovery: 85% of brand mentions in AI answers come from external domains, 41% see LLM-based search as the biggest change, and AI Overviews reduce top-result click-through from 27% to 11%. Companies must adapt strategies for machine readability and transparent pricing as AI influences purchasing decisions.

• 80% of SaaS and AI companies plan to change pricing models within 12 months.
• AI-native software commands a 21.2x revenue multiple vs. 5.5x for legacy SaaS.
• 63% expect hybrid billing to become most relevant within two years.

OMR and manager magazin Realign Finance Partnership

OMR and manager magazin are restructuring their joint finance offering: the jointly operated Finance Forward brand will be folded into each publisher’s individual products from mid‑August 2026. From 19 August 2026, recipients of the FFWD newsletter will receive the new "manager magazin Finance Briefing," where the former Finance Forward editorial team will continue to publish investigative finance reporting. OMR will consolidate finance coverage within its existing Finance Journey and continue to link finance topics with digitalization, AI, marketing and entrepreneurship. The two publishers will maintain their collaboration at the OMR Festival, including the annual Executive Dinner side event.

• OMR and manager magazin will discontinue the jointly operated Finance Forward brand and integrate it into their respective offerings from mid‑August 2026.
• From 19 August 2026, all recipients of the FFWD newsletter will receive the new "manager magazin Finance Briefing."
• The editorial team behind Finance Forward will continue to publish key investigative research and industry news (Fintech, banks, private equity, crypto, family offices) in the manager magazin Finance Briefing.