Koelnmesse vs VOK DAMS

German TV Award Moves Venue for Fresh Presentations

The German Television Award (Deutscher Fernsehpreis) will move its annual ceremony from the MMC studios in Cologne-Ossendorf to the newly opened Confex conference center in Cologne-Deutz. Jan Peter Lacher, RTL representative and chairman of the Fernsehpreis advisory board, cited the award's growth in categories and partners as a reason for the change. Production company Riverside Entertainment will produce the show, aiming to visually connect it with the city of Cologne for TV audiences. The venue offers a central location, a longer red carpet, and space for side events. A new 'Golden Hour' reception with the NRW prime minister and Cologne's mayor will precede the awards. The dress code remains 'Black Tie'.

• The German Television Award ceremony moves from MMC studios to the Confex venue in Cologne.
• The new venue is the Confex, a conference and exhibition center opened two years ago.
• Riverside Entertainment is the production company for the ceremony.

Koelnmesse Makes ISM Its Umbrella Brand

Koelnmesse will reposition the ISM trade fair as a broader umbrella brand. Starting next year, the organiser will run three specialised ISM formats intended to cover all stages of the confectionery value chain. The change includes retiring the Pro Sweets Cologne name. The announcement was reported by Lebensmittelzeitung (Redaktion LZ) on 2026-08-25.

• Koelnmesse will establish ISM as an umbrella brand for its confectionery trade fair.
• From next year, Koelnmesse will stage three specialised ISM formats covering all stages of the value chain.
• The name 'Pro Sweets Cologne' will be discontinued under the new ISM positioning.

Gamescom 2026 preview: who’s making a splash

PocketGamer.biz reports from outside Koelnmesse ahead of Gamescom 2026, noting a sold-out expo floor and visible marketing activity around the venue. Supercell is building a large presence at Gamescom Dev, while multiple publishers (including Astragon, Krafton, 4A Games, Funcom, Netease, Capcom, CD Projekt Red and others) have posters and billboards near the North and East entrances. Games commerce company Xsolla has set up a visible presence at Design Post Köln and run ads in nearby hotels. A prominent banner space between the North and East entrances remained unfilled days before the consumer expo opened; Bloober Team occupied that space in 2025.

• Gamescom 2026 sold out its expo floor space ahead of the show.
• Supercell is setting up a large presence at the Confex area where Gamescom Dev is taking place.
• Publishers with promotional displays mentioned around the venue include Astragon, Krafton, 4A Games, RGG Studio, Funcom, Netease, Capcom, Rebel Wolves, Grinding Gear Games, CD Projekt Red, Atlus, Creative Assembly and Insomniac.

VOK DAMS' Schmidt-Ott: AI era boosts demand for real-world events

In an interview with Meedia, Dr. Anja Schmidt-Ott of VOK DAMS Strategy & Consulting discusses the growing importance of real-world events in the AI age. She argues that the flood of AI-generated content and digital fatigue are increasing the desire for authentic in-person experiences. Schmidt-Ott highlights the use of AI, specifically 'digital doppelgangers' (behavioral simulation models based on around 39 variables), to tailor event formats to different audience segments. These GPT-based models simulate attendee behavior to optimize event design, training, and communication. She emphasizes that while AI helps prepare and personalize, it cannot replace the trust and credibility built through physical gatherings, forecasting a rise in event budgets and the significance of live formats in the communication mix.

• VOK DAMS hires Dr. Anja Schmidt-Ott for strategy and consulting, focusing on change communication.
• Schmidt-Ott utilizes behavioral simulation models ('digital doppelgangers') built as GPTs for event planning.
• The models use around 39 variables to simulate typical event behaviors and identify dominant audience types.

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