NATPE Budapest 2025 continues today with its second day, Tuesday, June 24th, at the InterContinental Hotel Budapest. Episode Magazine is proud to be a media partner of this event, and we are excited to be here with our NATPE Budapest 2025 issue.
Here is a recap of the second day of NATPE Budapest 2025:
The day began with a keynote by Andreas Briese from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. In her speech, Briese has highlighted the transformation from a simple video site into a multi-format, multi-device platform where creators can earn through diverse income streams. Television became the primary device for YouTube. In the United States, it is the The most-watched television service on television, behind Netflix, Prime, Hulu, etc.,” said Briese and added “YouTube currently offers 1 trillion hours of television viewing per day, and 50% of television viewing time comes from content that’s longer than 20 minutes.”
Furthermore, creators are encouraged to treat each format (Shorts, long videos, livestreams) as puzzle pieces that serve different audiences. YouTube offers full ownership and flexible monetization, acting both as a content hub and marketing tool. Rich data access and tools like Content ID also support copyright protection and strategic growth.
This was followed by a session titled “Global Format Briefing: Spotting the Next Big Thing” from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m., where K7 Media’s Clare Thompson presented an exclusive look at global content trends and emerging format ideas. In CEE, the top five format leaders are Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Czech Republic.
The Asian influence was strong in current trends, especially with the growing popularity of Japanese comedy shows. Many of these shows are now either represented by or co-developed with international distributors, indicating a growing presence in global markets. Meanwhile, Korean psychological reality shows have been on the rise, and adventure-based reality formats are gaining traction. One notable example is the Norwegian format The Box, where competitors face a new challenge inside a box in every episode, keeping the suspense high without overly complex rules. The challenges range from treasure hunts to chase sequences, Thompson explained.
Also in high demand are nostalgic and family-friendly IPs such as France’s That’s My Chair and the U.S. classic Scrabble, which resonate with both older generations and younger viewers like Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Highlights of the day included “30 Minutes with AMC Networks” presented by Realscreen, Lionsgate’s content showcase, and a panel titled “Format Futures: Making It Work (Locally)”. In this session, Anna Kalyna, Head of Production Studio and Creative Producer of The Bachelor, from Starlight Media, introduced the Ukrainian adaptation of The Bachelor, featuring war veteran Oleksandr Teren as the new Bachelor. Instead of reinventing the format, the goal is to create a season that deeply resonates with Ukrainian audiences.
In the same panel, Marta Raczek, Head of Entertainment Development, Creative Producer of ZPR Media, announced the return of the beloved Polish dating format, The Dating Game. Originally aired between 1992 and 2005, the show captured the hearts of Polish viewers. Now, ZPR Media is bringing it back for a new generation.
The day wrapped up with the live Pitch & Play competition, NATPE Budapest’s signature event showcasing the CEE region’s most promising original format concepts. NATPE Budapest 2025’s second day concluded with an epic boat party.
Episode Magazine will continue to be present throughout NATPE Budapest 2025 and will provide daily updates. Click here to check out our NATPE Budapest 2025 issue!
