Score Media Group vs SPORT1 MEDIEN

Christopher Kaiser wird CEO der Score Media Group

Der Medien- und Digitalmanager bringt langjährige Vermarktungserfahrung und umfassende Expertise in der digitalen Transformation mit.

Christopher Kaiser Named New CEO of Score Media

Score Media Group, a German alliance of regional newspaper and media houses, will have a new CEO starting January 1, 2027. Christopher Kaiser, currently Co-CEO of Ströer Media Solutions and a member of Ströer's Executive Board, will succeed Carsten Dorn, who leaves after more than eight years to become managing director of audio marketer RMS, alongside Sven Thölen, succeeding Stefan Mölling, who will become Chief Commercial Officer at Ströer. Kaiser brings over 25 years of leadership experience in agencies and marketing, with a focus on digital, data-driven business models, and a decade at Ströer where he expanded programmatic offerings and integrated out-of-home with digital. He will aim to further develop Score Media's print and digital portfolio, leveraging his expertise in digital transformation through technology, data, and AI, building on Dorn's strong foundation.

• Christopher Kaiser becomes CEO of Score Media Group on January 1, 2027.
• Carsten Dorn leaves after more than eight years to become managing director of RMS, succeeding Stefan Mölling, who moves to Ströer as Chief Commercial Officer.
• Kaiser joins from Ströer, where he was Co-CEO of Ströer Media Solutions and a member of the Executive Board for over ten years.

Video Advertising Effectiveness Goes Beyond Viewability and VTR

In an interview with ADZINE, Olaf-Norman Brandt, likely a representative of a company within the Score Media Group, discusses the evolving effectiveness of video advertising. He argues that traditional metrics like viewability and view-through rate (VTR) are insufficient and should be supplemented with attention metrics and interaction signals. Brandt highlights the importance of editorial context for high engagement and explains how interactive video formats, based on the IAB's SIMID standard, enable granular measurement of user engagement. He cites a campaign for Velux using a slider to demonstrate product features and mentions retail media scenarios where users can customize product combinations. Brandt notes the potential of combining video with retail media and CTV to bring ads closer to purchase decisions, while cautioning against simply repurposing TV spots for all screens. He also touches on the role of AI in campaign optimization and workflow efficiencies, emphasizing the need for context-appropriate creativity.

• Video advertising effectiveness is discussed beyond viewability and VTR.
• Interactive video formats based on SIMID enable granular engagement measurement.
• A Velux campaign used an interactive slider to demonstrate window effects.

Highlight Group Reports Lower H1 Revenue, Ongoing Losses

The Swiss Highlight Group reported first-half 2026 results showing revenue of CHF 127.4 million, an 18.6% decline year-on-year, and a consolidated after-tax loss of CHF 17.6 million. The Sports & Event division saw revenues fall 28.3% to CHF 39.7 million while the Film segment declined 13.3% to CHF 87.7 million. Cost cuts reduced the sport division’s loss but the film division widened its loss. Short-term financial liabilities stood at CHF 190.6 million and equity was negative at CHF -20.6 million, with a CHF 74.5 million liability due to an unnamed bank consortium at the end of November 2026, raising doubts about going-concern financing.

• Highlight Group reported H1 2026 revenue of CHF 127.4 million, down 18.6% (≈CHF 29 million) year-on-year.
• Sports & Event revenue fell 28.3% to CHF 39.7 million in H1 2026.
• Film segment revenue declined 13.3% to CHF 87.7 million in H1 2026.