OT FORUM – Vrentzos: Artificial Intelligence is a Driving Force for Value Creation

In the new landscape shaping the Mass Media amid geopolitical, technological, and cultural changes—as well as the explosion of Artificial Intelligence—Ioannis Vrentzos, CEO of ALTER EGO MEDIA, spoke at the OT FORUM, held at the Small Stock Exchange, to journalists Christos Kolonas and Alexandros Klossas.

“The pace of innovation is overwhelming. The changes taking place create uncertainty and anxiety as they disrupt the status quo,” said Mr. Vrentzos, noting that historically, upheavals have driven human progress.

He also emphasized that this focus was reflected in this year’s Nobel Prize in Economics, which examined how “creative destruction contributes to sustainable development.”

“At Alter Ego Media, we are not anxious about change. After all, Alter Ego Media itself was created amid economic destruction in the media during the previous decade’s crisis but  through our vision, hard work, and significant investments, we built a group with unprecedented business health in the industry,” he said.

Defining New Industry Boundaries

The CEO highlighted that in this new order, it is important to define what the industry actually is: “Traditional boundaries are not clear,” he said, emphasizing that business models in media, entertainment, technology, telecommunications, and even retail now interact and overlap.

“Today, we operate in a new ecosystem where value is created through experiences—many speak of a new ‘experience economy’—where content, commerce, and culture converge,” he noted.

“Alter Ego Media’s strategy is to position itself at the intersection of journalism and entertainment, the digital and the live experience, and Greek creativity and international audiences,” he stressed.

On Artificial Intelligence

Asked about developments in Artificial Intelligence and its impact on media operations, Mr. Vrentzos noted that technology-driven changes are creating deep transformations: “Adapting to this is not optional. The need for transformation is arriving far faster than we can imagine.”

He explained how AI technologies are reshaping every aspect of media operations—from content creation, distribution, and audience interaction to advertising placement and purchase.

“Media companies that do not become active players in this technological transition will not survive,” he emphasized. “At Alter Ego Media, we view AI not as a new trend, but as a fundamental driving force for value creation—empowering our people, enhancing creativity, and strengthening trust with our audience and partners.”

Participation in Stages Network

Regarding the company’s involvement in Live Entertainment, Mr. Vrentzos explained that Alter Ego Media’s investment in the Stages Network is part of the Group’s strategy to expand its activities across the entire spectrum of cultural content creation and utilization.

He added that the live entertainment sector is a natural extension of Alter Ego Media’s ecosystem, connecting creativity, entertainment, and live audience experiences with the power of media and technology.

Through this collaboration, the group aims to leverage synergies between television, digital, and stage production, strengthen its presence in the creative industry, and promote Greek artistic production to a wider audience.

A Core Development Pillar

Live entertainment will be a key growth pillar for Alter Ego Media, as the sector offers significant growth potential. “The live entertainment sector can further exploit and enhance the country’s tourism product,” he said, referring to the millions of tourists visiting Greece, generating demand for high-quality live entertainment.

Asked whether new moves in the sector are expected, Mr. Vrentzos was clear: “We see investment opportunities and potential consolidation in the market. We believe in strategic partnerships and investing in capable teams. After all, acquisitions are part of the Group’s DNA.”

Regarding Alter Ego Media’s investment plan after the listing on the ATHEX (Athens Stock Exchange), he expressed satisfaction with progress, stating it is being executed consistently and fully aligned with the strategic objectives set at the time of listing.

He noted that the acquisitions of Tlife and Newsit have significantly strengthened Alter Ego Media’s digital publishing presence, adding substantial traffic, advertising revenue, and synergies in content and technology.

Simultaneously, he emphasized that the company is successfully investing in new content forms, such as film productions, further expanding its creative and commercial footprint.

Finally, regarding the use of funds raised, he stated that currently, 70% of the funds have been invested and expects full utilization by the first quarter of 2026.

Source: tovima.com