Tag: Bikash Kundu

  • Bikash Kundu transitions to JioStar as head of agency partnerships

    Bikash Kundu transitions to JioStar as head of agency partnerships

    MUMBAI: Bikash Kundu has moved on to JioStar as the  head of agency partnership, effective January 2025, from Viacom18 Media, following its merger with Star India. 

    Kundu held senior leadership positions at Viacom18 Media, where he spent 17 years. Most recently, he served as the senior vice president & head of revenue (regional entertainment), overseeing revenue operations for 14 regional channels across six languages. He also previously led sales and syndication for Viacom18’s kids cluster.

    With over 23 years of diverse experience in the media and entertainment industry, Kundu has  a wealth of expertise across broadcasting, digital, print, and advertising domains.

    Kundu’s extensive career spans reputed organisations such as Sahara One Media, UTV-Disney, Satyam Infoway, India.com, and Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd. His professional journey has covered various stages of business growth, including startups, steady-state enterprises, hyper-growth phases, and mergers and acquisitions.

    Known for his strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability, Kundu is highly regarded as a leader who builds and mentors high-performance teams. His innovative approach and unwavering commitment to integrity have defined his career trajectory.

    Kundu is a postgraduate in marketing management from the Times School of Marketing and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Delhi University.

  • Colors Kannada brings back RAJA RANI with all new RELOADED avatar

    Colors Kannada brings back RAJA RANI with all new RELOADED avatar

    Mumbai: In line with the promise to entertain audiences round the clock, Colors Kannada is bringing back the highly anticipated celebrity dance show, Raja Rani, for its third season, titled “Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3.” Presented by White Gold and powered by Amrith Noni, alongside esteemed partners Swastiks Masala, Bhima Jewellers, Sadguru Ayurveda Gram Flour Soap, Sangeetha Mobiles, this season promises an unparalleled blend of talent and entertainment.

    Premiered on June 8th at 7:30 PM, Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3 will grace the screens of Colors Kannada every Saturday and Sunday, promising viewers an immersive experience filled with electrifying performances and star-studded moments. Adding another surprise, the show features a three-judge panel, a first for the show. Joining incumbents Thara Anuradha and Srujan Lokesh will be Kannada film industry superstar Aditi Prabhudeva.

    Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3 features 12 dynamic celebrity couples from diverse backgrounds, including social media influencers, television stars, and more. These couples will showcase their on-screen chemistry and compatibility through exhilarating dance performances and engaging games. The show saw the return of the charismatic Anupama Gowda, who is adding excitement with her captivating presence.

    Speaking about the launch of Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3, Viacom18 cluster head, regional entertainment Sushma Rajesh said, “Colors Kannada, as a brand has always been at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of content and trying new formats. Our core promise to consumers is to deliver content that is entertaining and nuanced with the local flavor. The new season of Raja Rani is set to enthrall and entertain with compelling content driven by some amazing talents and meticulous execution.”

    Colors Kannada business head Prashanth Nayak expressed his excitement, “We are thrilled to launch the third season of the Raja Rani franchise, featuring all-new elements like a new judge and a dance-focused format. The show will also retain the entertainment elements from the previous seasons. We’re confident that audiences will embrace the fresh incarnation of Raja-Rani.”

    White Gold founder & CEO Rahul Joseph said, “We are delighted to associate with Colors Kannada for the third season of Raja Rani. It’s an honor to be a part of such an iconic show that brings joy and entertainment to millions of viewers. The dance show is set to have electrifying performances and we plan to bring that gold quality content through our association. “

    Narayan N (CEO) Amrith Noni Powered By: ‘’Amrith Noni is thrilled to power the third season of Raja Rani and are excited to be part of the thrilling performances and aim to support the health and recovery of the participants. We believe in the power of entertainment to bring people together and are excited to be involved in this journey.’’

    Dwarkanath (Managing Director) Swastiks Masala Special Partner: “As a brand deeply entrenched in tradition and culinary excellence, Swastiks takes immense delight in its partnership with Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3. Our collaboration transcends mere sponsorship; it is a celebration of heritage and festivity. We eagerly anticipate the unfolding of this enchanting journey, as each episode promises to bring our rich flavors and compelling narratives to life.”

    Mahesh (Marketing Head) Bhima Jewellers Special Partner: “Bhima Jewellers is honored to be a special partner of Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3. Being a sponsor on this show allows us to celebrate the artistry and elegance that resonate with our brand. We eagerly look forward to the brilliant performances of the celebrity couples and the glamour they will bring to the show.”

    Pradeep Shetty (Managing Director) Sadguru Ayurveda Gram Flour Soap Special Partner: “At Sadguru Ayurveda, we are thrilled to join Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3 as a special partner. This collaboration allows us to extend our commitment to promoting health and wellness to a wider audience. We are excited to support this entertaining and vibrant show and look forward to the joy and inspiration it will bring to viewers.”

    Subhash Chandra (Managing Director) Sangeetha Mobiles Special Partner: “Joining forces with Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3 fills Sangeetha Mobiles with delight. As we embark on this journey together, we eagerly anticipate the electrifying performances of the celebrity couples. Moreover, this partnership offers a thrilling avenue to connect with our customers in a dynamic and engaging manner.”

  • In partnership with Airtel, Big Boss Marathi announces new plot-twists and innovative brand integrations

    In partnership with Airtel, Big Boss Marathi announces new plot-twists and innovative brand integrations

    Mumbai: Bigg Boss Marathi has partnered with Airtel to install a phone booth inside the ‘house’ through which the contestants can connect with anyone outside the show.

    Essence, the global data and measurement-driven media agency behind this innovation, has left no stone unturned in creating a one-of-a-kind experience for both contestants and viewers of the unrivalled show.

    The phone booth also plays the signature Airtel song, transporting viewers on a nostalgic journey.

    For the first time, Airtel ran a Bigg Boss contest in which the lucky winner was chosen from millions of Airtel customers to be a part of the ‘house.’ For the first time in Marathi television history, a unique brand association like this has resulted in a commoner winning a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of this magnitude.

    Bigg Boss Marathi is in its fourth season, hosted by the versatile actor-director-producer Mahesh Manjrekar, and features an exciting mix of 16 housemates who make the season an entertainment extravaganza.

    This season promises nonstop entertainment, exclusive cuts, round-the-clock content drops, and a 24-hour live feed from the house, exclusively on Voot, Monday through Friday.

    Viacom18 Regional Entertainment revenue head Bikash Kundu said, “We are thrilled to join hands with India’s leading telecom company, Airtel, through an innovation-driven marketing concept. While the phone booth became a huge hit on the show, the contest received a humongous response across traditional and new-age media. We reached out to the combined user base of Airtel and Colors Marathi through TVCs, on-ground activations, push messages, recorded announcements and messages, among other initiatives, making the campaign a massive success.”

    Essence managing director (India) Sonali Malaviya commented, “As Airtel’s integrated media agency of record, Essence is excited to partner with Viacom18 and Colors Marathi on this custom content innovation initiative. Leveraging the popular reality television show Bigg Boss, the idea and execution have enabled us to help drive increased consumer engagement and brand consideration for Airtel in the market. We look forward to collaborating on even more creative opportunities and breakthrough experiences to help Airtel win in the dynamic telecommunications category.”

  • Amagi roped in for Colors Kannada & Marathi ad solutions

    MUMBAI: Amagi Media labs has added Colors Kannada and Colors Marathi to its expanding bouquet of channels offering geo-targeted advertising solution.

    This partnership will offer advertisers an opportunity to market region-specific products, communicate regional offers and promotions, and increase the share of voice by targeting markets such as Bangalore and rest of Karnataka, and Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra. With this addition, Amagi’s channel strength has increased to 18 channels across entertainment, news, movies and music genres.

    Viacom18 regional channels sales senior VP Bikash Kundu said, “The partnership with Amagi will enable our national, regional, and new advertisers to reach region specific audience with targeted messaging in a cost-effective manner.”

    Amagi Media Labs co-founder Baskar Subramanian said, “We anticipate an incredible scope for growth of geo-targeted TV advertising in the country.”