India’s Biggest Multi-Genre Music and Lifestyle Festival – Budweiser Beats Presents Vh1 Supersonic Co-Powered by NEXA, is back with its 2023 Edition!

Keeping fans at the forefront, with the best-in-class brands, Vh1 Supersonic is coming back with a bang from 24th-26th February 2023 in Pune

Uniting music lovers and lifestyle enthusiasts, Vh1 Supersonic, the much-anticipated multi-genre music and experiential destination is all set to return after a hiatus of two years, celebrating all things music, food, art, fashion and gaming!

The one-stop shop for all things pop-culture is here to help everyone escape from the mundane life and revel in things that make them feel young, wild, and free. Vh1 Supersonic gears up for an unparalleled experience from 24th to 26th February 2023 at Mahalakshmi Lawns, Pune… with the one question - Why be HERE, when you can be THERE? It’s time to ‘Be There Be Free’. Book your passes now at https://www.gosupersonic.in/!

Riding high on its successful 7 previous editions, Viacom18’s marquee property, Vh1 Supersonic 2023 has not only onboarded sponsors and forged partnerships with the category leaders across sectors, that transcends genres, boundaries, cuisines, artists, and experiences, all at one place! The total sponsorship value has levelled up, with Budweiser Beats on board as the Title Sponsor, with them curating multiple one-of-a-kind experiences across the festival like bringing back the much loved Budweiser Beer Garden along with their very own Techno & House stage; BUDX Spectrum, a dancefloor which thousands have graced over the years, amongst other exciting engagements at the festival.

Along with powered by sponsors onboarded such as NEXA, and eminent partners such as World-renown Audio partner, JBL & cocktail partner - Jimmy’s Cocktail, there are sure to be lifelong memories of a multi-sensory experience.

Travel Partner - Make My Trip, youth partner - Under25 Club, Vibe Partner - Slim Jim (India’s biggest Hemp Lifestyle Brand), and Fitness Partner - Gold’s Gym - are also coming together to provide never before seen offers exclusively for the buyers of Vh1 Supersonic Passes. Last, but not least - Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd will be partnering with Vh1 Supersonic with a more holistic consumer experience in mind. They will offer a one-of-a-kind food and beverage experience, to give consumers an elevated experience of a fest within a fest!

Speaking on the brand partnerships and support received for this edition of Supersonic, Mahesh Shetty, Head – Network Sales at Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd said, “As one of the biggest multi-genre music and lifestyle festivals in the country, Vh1 Supersonic has evolved into an unrivalled cultural phenomenon. It has established itself as one of the premiere destinations for youth brands to reach their target demographic. Our seamless brand integrations keep us ahead of the game; leading global brands like Budweiser partnering with us once again as well as partners like NEXA and JBL joining us in this journey is a sterling example of the success of Vh1 Supersonic each year.”

Gaurav Mashruwala, Business Head, Viacom18 LIVE (Integrated Network Solutions) added, “For over a decade, Vh1 Supersonic has carved an unequivocal legacy for itself, becoming synonymous with an exceptional experience that combines music, love, food and art. It continues to cross benchmarks with phenomenal support from like-minded brands. Our Superfam can look forward to an unrivalled new edition, across multiple consumer touchpoints, thanks to our incredible support systems - our partners and their distinguished offerings.”

On the partnership with Supersonic, Vineet Sharma, VP Marketing – South Asia, AB InBev, said, “Vh1 Supersonic has come to be known as one of India's most iconic music festivals with its larger-than-life experiences, genre-defying music and as an established culture-shaper. These are tenets that strongly resonate with our brand, and we're thrilled to be collaborating again to bring back the newest edition of the festival, after a 2-year wait. We will see the return of some of Budweiser's most coveted experiences at Supersonic, but beyond that, with Budweiser Beats, we promise to level up the energy with new and unforgettable moments for fans and festival goers to enjoy the music this year.”

Synonymous with Vh1 Supersonic, Festival Curator Nikhil Chinapa, said, “We're been away for two difficult years and we’re thrilled to be back.. and back with a bang! Much has changed while much remains the same. Incredible international and indie artists, phenomenal production, flea market, food and fashion streets… but most of all, our SuperFam is back and I can’t wait to see them all! I'm beyond excited and I can’t wait to make new friends and catch up with old ones at Vh1 Supersonic 2023!”

To ensure a hassle-free super-trip, festival enthusiasts can buy the Supersonic Pass inclusive of Travel and Hotel deals through curated, special holiday packages by Travel partner, Make My Trip. As the Youth partner, Under25 will organize on-ground Supersonic Townhalls in colleges to create engaging, learning & festival-focused activities via college ambassadors while also providing potential jobs/internships to the young, budding talent across India today who want to see what this entertainment industry is all about! Coming on board as the Vibe partner, Slim Jim will give away exclusive Eco - Friendly, Hemp-based products only to Supersonic pass holders with 50% off, before and during the festival. To fulfil the hunger pangs of all, trailblazer Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality will not only have the self-programmed SOCIAL stage with SOCIAL-dedicated bars across the festival but also the most exciting integration will be the curation of the Superflea; with specially curated experiences and pop-ups by restaurants under the Impresario portfolio such as SOCIAL, Smoke House Deli, Salt Water Cafe, Slink & Bardot, Boss Burger, Lucknowee, Prithvi Cafe & many more! To add to the extravaganza, the Superflea will also feature a few brands that are ‘Friends of Impresario’!

A thought, a dream or a vision, entrepreneurship is now synonymous with these ambitious words as entrepreneurs set out on the challenging road of growing a business.

Globally, the pandemic recorded a boom in new businesses, with markets like the US recording a 95% increase in the number of applications for starting a new business in July 2020, as opposed to the same period in 2019, as per the Census Bureau. From grocery delivery to hailing a ride to finding a recipe for items in your fridge, these businesses do it all and much more. Naturally, a story that chronicles the struggles of entrepreneurs in today’s age of entrepreneurship boom, struck a chord.

The web series Pitchers, released in 2015, honestly and realistically narrated a tale of three friends on their entrepreneurial journey. It revolves around their global narrative of jumping through the hoops of pitching startup ideas, looking for investors and developing their product. ZEE5 now takes this dream further with the pathbreaking series’ second season after a wait of seven years. But there are a few reasons why fans all over the world are eagerly looking forward to the new journey of Pitchers.

One of Pitchers' biggest feats was addressing real-life entrepreneurship struggles and the challenges most entrepreneurs face throughout the start-up journey. Director Vaibhav Bundhoo presented this through a global lens, earning the series worldwide attention. The second season now takes this journey further with a new story of the co-founder trio and their now 25-member team. The show’s iconic writing style and impeccable acting also added to its relatability factor. It emoted real human emotions and words that helped the series dissolve linguistic and geographical barriers to emerge as a show that unites viewers in its story.

Asia is reckoned as a hotbed of entrepreneurship, owing to the increasing number of unicorns emerging from the region and the unique solutions they offer to cater to various challenges. Millennials, in particular, form a major part of the booming entrepreneurship landscape. Naturally, a series that honestly portrays the journey charmed them and connected with them on multiple levels. This occurred not just in India, where the series originated but also globally. The show’s strong messaging even made the series make it to the IMDb’s coveted top 250 list of TV shows. It remains one of the highest-rated Indian shows, with a star rating of 9.1. Streaming now, witness the new chapter of PRAGATI.AI and its co-founders.

‘Pitchers S2’ streaming now exclusively on ZEE5 Global

Viacom18 to present SA20 in English, Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil

Viacom18 announced their expert panel for the inaugural season of SA20, South Africa’s premier T20 league starting January 10. The panel will be headlined by Suresh Raina, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, and Aakash Chopra. Viewers in India can catch the action live on JioCinema, Sports18 – 1 SD & HD, and Colors Tamil in four languages – English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

The Hindi feed on JioCinema will feature cricketer-turned-expert Aakash Chopra, India’s highest wicket-taker of the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 campaign, Singh, former international cricketer Ojha and former England international Owais Shah.

Tamil viewers will be able to enjoy the voices of Tamil Nadu cricketers Abhinav Mukund alongside Anirudha Srikkanth on JioCinema and Colors Tamil. Telugu coverage will be headlined by former India international Venkatapathy Raju, who will be joined by Akshath Reddy, Sandeep Bavanaka and R J Hemanth on JioCinema.

The SA20 English commentary team has reunited the legendary Proteas with AB De Villiers making his debut as a commentator, joined by his former national team teammates Mark Boucher, Ashwell Prince, Shaun Pollock, Herschelle Gibbs, B Chris Morris and Vernon Philander.

The experienced Mark Nicholas will join former England internationals Kevin Pietersen and Darren Gough. In addition, the international line-up will include South Africa’s first lady of cricket Kass Naidoo, Urooj Mumtaz, Pommie Mbangwa, Mike Haysman, and former West Indies T20 World Cup-winning captain Darren Sammy.

The SA20 starts on January 10 with Rashid Khan-led MI Cape Town taking on Paarl Royals, headed by David Miller. The match will be live on JioCinema, Sports18 – 1 SD & HD and Colors Tamil from 8:30 PM onwards.

Havas Media Group India, the media expertise arm of Havas Group India, has appointed Sonali Bagal as Director - Marketing & Communications.

Reporting to Mohit Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, Havas Media Group India and Pritha Dasgupta, Chief Marketing Officer, Havas Group India, Sonali will head the marketing and communications function of all the specialised divisions under the wider Havas Media Group India umbrella, including Havas Media, Havas Sports and Entertainment, Havas Content, Havas Market, Havas Programmatic Hub, Analytics among others. She will be based out of Gurgaon.

This appointment comes at a time when Havas Media Group India has established itself as one of India’s most sought-after media agency networks, with a stellar roster of clients across sector and industries, like Tata Motors, Swiggy, Vivo, Dominos, Hyundai, Stashfin, Just Dial, Firefox, Dr Reddy’s, Ola Group, Valvoline, and Coinswitch, to name a few. Havas Media Group India has demonstrated steady growth numbers as evidenced by their consistent performance on R3 New Business League – Media Agency Rankings as a top 3 spot regular for the past 12 months. Furthermore, in the recent RECMA’s Qualitative Benchmark Report, Havas Media Group India has seen upward mobility in its rankings, from being classified as a ‘High’ profile agency in February 2022 to a ‘Dominant’ profile agency in October 2022, consolidating and solidifying its stature as one of the top 5 leading media groups in India.

With over 13 years of experience, Sonali has worked with marquee brands such as General Motors, Deloitte, KPMG, ISB Hyderabad, Pearson India, and Cambridge International Examination. Moving from her 7-year long tenure at Mediabrands India where she was part of the network’s PR and communications function. Sonali brings holistic knowledge and varied skills to her new role. Having worked across various sectors, namely, education, automobile, consulting, and lifestyle, Sonali’s expertise lies in driving marketing strategies for brands by optimising internal as well as external communications. As part of her role, Sonali will leverage her strengths in support of Havas Media Group India’s ethos of making a Meaningful Difference through Meaningful Media.

Talking about the new appointment, Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India, said, “Havas Media Group India has grown exponentially over the last couple of years, and we intend to keep our momentum going with aggressive plans in place to support our Meaningful Media journey. 2022 was a fantastic year for us. The new business growth, our innovative and future-forward media solutions has made us a ‘Dominant’ agency in RECMA. 2023 looks even more promising in terms of our ability to navigate new challenges and seize new opportunities. And having someone with Sonali's track record join us as we take Havas Media Group India to the next level demonstrates how we are evolving to become even more future-ready, ensuring that our marketing strategies and growth plans work in tandem.”

Pritha Dasgupta, CMO, Havas Group India, said, “Havas Group India’s growth journey from 2019 has seen unprecedented momentum across all its constituent agencies and divisions. As the network continues to grow and diversify its portfolio of offerings, we have ensured that the people we bring into the fold share the vision and mission of the network. With her experience and varied knowledge of the advertising world, Sonali is a rising marketing and communications star. In her capable hands, I am sure that the legacy, conversations, and strategies that Havas Media Group India, and by proxy, Havas Group India, is building will become even more pronounced and value-led in the days to come.”

Talking about her new role, Sonali said, “The media landscape is dynamic and ever-changing, and I am thrilled to be joining Havas Media Group's India operations as they make big waves both globally and locally. I'm excited to be working with a network that has such a distinct, innovative, and agile ecosystem and is constantly redefining what a Meaningful Media experience can be. As brands continue to evolve, adapt, and keep up with innovations across various disciplines, I look forward to both growing as a marketing and communications professional and making a positive and meaningful contribution to the network's continued growth potential.”

An experienced and tech-savvy advertising leader with a proven track record of building digital capabilities and driving transformation

Innocean India, part of INNOCEAN Global Network, today announced the appointment of Santosh Kumar as its Chief Operating Officer. With Santosh's extensive experience in helping traditional advertising agencies and brands become digital-first organizations, he brings to the company a wide range of capabilities beyond advertising. He had a unique blend of corporate and start-up experience that not only helped in devising growth strategies and effectively managing businesses at scale but also in executing with precision and innovation

As a seasoned, resourceful, and innovative agency business leader and digital transformation specialist, Santosh has a successful track record of over 18 years of delivering at the intersection of consumer, media, and brands enabled by creativity, data, and technology.

He has a track record of success in large corporates as well as entrepreneurship, having previously founded successful start-ups like Mangodata and Webitude. He was also instrumental in driving the digital transformation of HT media and establishing Zenith Optimedia's digital division. With a wealth of experience working in domestic and international markets, including Singapore, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, he has worked with over 100 top brands such as Indigo Airlines, Pepsi, HT, HP, and Nestle to name a few.

Before joining Innocean India, Santosh Kumar was based in Singapore and ran his own consulting company that helped traditional advertising agencies and brands transform into digital-first organizations by building digital capabilities and centers of excellence to meet current and future needs in South East Asia and India markets.

Commenting on the appointment, Hak-No Yun, Managing Director, Innocean India said, “We are delighted to welcome Santosh at a critical juncture in our operations. Besides bringing a wealth of experience in all aspects of the digital marketing business, Santosh also possesses demonstrated leadership abilities, which are vital assets for a company like Innocean that is rapidly evolving to provide holistic brand and consumer experiences, not just advertising. We are confident Santosh’s in-depth knowledge and experience will prove invaluable as we progress towards becoming one of India’s leading integrated marketing agencies.”

“I am thrilled to join Innocean at this exciting time of transformation and help guide the agency towards becoming a modern, forward-thinking company that delivers comprehensive brand experiences. With digital, data, and creativity at the core of our operations, I will put my best efforts to position Innocean as one of India's top advertising and communication agencies by building world-class digital and integrated marketing capabilities," said Santosh Kumar.