Rakuten TV Enterprise has launched LIVE, a new European event series aimed at senior executives across the connected TV and streaming sectors.
The first edition will take place in Madrid on March 17 and is expected to bring together more than 150 executives from across advertising, media agencies, platforms, production companies, studios and broadcasters for keynote sessions and networking.
Rakuten said the Madrid event would also host the inaugural meeting of its newly created CTV Advisory Board, which will meet twice a year to examine market trends, changing advertising models and growth opportunities in the European connected TV sector.
The company said the launch in Spain reflects its roots in the country, where its European headquarters are based in Barcelona. Rakuten TV operates across 43 territories.
Following the Madrid debut, the LIVE series will continue this year with further events planned in London, Munich and Milan, creating what the company described as a European circuit for dialogue and collaboration in the CTV market.
Speakers at LIVE Madrid will include Rakuten TV CEO and president Cédric Dufour, Miguel López-Valverde, regional minister for digitalisation of the Community of Madrid, Carla Redondo Galbarriatu from Spain’s Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, and IAB Spain director general Reyes Justribó Ferrer.
Confirmed attendees are said to include executives from Paramount, Google, YouTube, Movistar+, Warner Bros., BBC Studios, Filmax, Atresmedia, Mediaset, DAZN, Lactalis Group, Dentsu, Havas Media Network, OMD, Publicis and WPP Media.
Members of the new advisory board include Daniel Knapp of IAB Europe, Emmanuel Crego of Groupe Values, Ana Cámara of WPP Media, Zach Belmont of Paramount, Gareth Vaughan Jones of Virgin Media O2, Maribel Vivancos of WPP Media Spain, Will Gough of Dentsu UK, Johan Holm of WPP Media and Edouard Lauwick of Rakuten TV Enterprise.
Dufour said: “Connected TV is entering a new phase of maturity in Europe, as streaming models evolve and advertising becomes an increasingly central driver of growth. With LIVE, we want to create a space where the industry can come together to exchange perspectives, anticipate change and build stronger collaboration across the ecosystem.”
LIVE Madrid will be held on Tuesday March 17 from 18.00 at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid. LIVE London is scheduled for Tuesday June 9 at The Shard, while events in Munich and Milan are planned for later in the year.
