Blog

Mumbai, May 26: Leading Indian teen boy band OutStation has officially announced ‘The Homecoming Bus’, a massive 14-day, 11-city road trip kicking off next month to celebrate their breakout one year anniversary

Exactly one year after five boys from different corners of India were brought together by Visva Records’ nationwide talent search, the band is returning to the road to thank their rapidly growing, fiercely loyal fanbase called the ‘Passengers’. 

From June 14 to June 28, 2026, the five-member act will live, travel and create entirely out of a custom tour bus. The journey begins in Mumbai and will cut through Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Jaipur, Delhi, Agra, Bhopal, Indore and Pune, before completing the loop back to Mumbai.
 
‘The Homecoming Bus’ completely flips the traditional concert model. Driven by raw, unscripted fan interaction, the 14-day journey will feature daily unscripted livestreams, impromptu performances and meet-ups. In a bid to turn the road trip into a national cultural exchange, the band will collaborate daily with local creators, artisans and musicians specific to each city. The entire 14-day expedition will be heavily documented with daily content drops across social platforms, culminating in a raw, feature-length documentary chronicling the highs, lows and chaos of life on the Indian highway.
 
OutStation states,

“A year ago, the five of us were absolute strangers from completely different towns, packing our bags with nothing but a dream. We didn’t know if anyone would listen. To see over Tens of Thousands of ‘Passengers’ step into our world this year has been life changing. ‘Homecoming‘ is a love letter to our fans. We aren’t just putting on shows; we are living on the road, cooking up cultural collaborations, and coming straight to the doorsteps of the people who built us. We left home to chase this, now we’re coming to yours.”

Mentored by Grammy-nominated global hitmaker Savan Kotecha (the mastermind behind iconic hits for One Direction, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd), OutStation has evolved from a bootcamp experiment into India’s fastest-rising pop acts. Despite having only two official independent releases, ‘Tum Se’ and ‘Aaj Kal’, the band has already commanded a collective audience of over 2,00,000 fans across venues, pop-ups and livestreams, while opening for global giants like Akon and indie icon Anuv Jain.

The emotional heartbeat of this road trip is their upcoming debut EP of the same name, scheduled for a worldwide release on July 31, 2026 across all major streaming platforms.

Mumbai, May 26 : Hansa Research Group, through its IPLomania study tracking audience behaviour during the first six weeks of IPL 2026, has revealed emerging trends across viewership, consumer engagement, brand visibility, and fandom patterns. The findings highlight how the IPL is steadily evolving into a multi-platform entertainment ecosystem, driven by dual-screen consumption, digital-first engagement, and growing interaction with short-format content and highlights.

The study reveals that IPL consumption in 2026 is being driven by extremely high engagement intensity among core fans, with audiences increasingly treating the tournament as a daily entertainment habit rather than an occasional sporting event. Over 41.18% viewers reported watching 7+ IPL matches weekly, while another 29.78% viewers watched 6–7 matches every week. The average IPL viewer consumed 6.12 matches weekly during the tournament period, indicating sustained and habitual engagement across the season.

The IPLomania study further reveals that audiences are increasingly shifting how they consume the tournament, with multi-platform and digital-first viewing behaviour continuing to strengthen during IPL 2026. Nearly 70% viewers now consume IPL across both television and OTT platforms, making dual-screen viewing the dominant mode of tournament consumption.

While only 18.98% viewers now watch IPL exclusively on television, 38.26% viewers mainly consume IPL on TV while simultaneously engaging through OTT platforms, and another 31.16% viewers primarily consume through OTT while continuing partial TV viewing. According to Hansa Research’s IPLomania trends, exclusive linear TV viewership has declined from nearly 27% earlier to 18.98% in IPL 2026, indicating a clear migration toward connected TVs, mobile streaming, and digital-first viewing habits.

The findings also highlight the rapid rise of short-format and catch-up IPL consumption beyond live broadcasts. Around 13.64% viewers actively consume IPL through social media highlights and reels, while another 8.40% audiences engage with match highlights on YouTube. Among engagement-led formats, “Super Sixes” emerged as the most consumed content category at 36.33%, followed by “Moment of the Day” at 33.66%, “Fall of Wicket” clips at 32.99%, “Winning Moments” at 32.14%, and “Action Replay” content at 28.38%.

On the advertising front, CEAT emerged as the most recalled brand during IPL 2026 with a recall score of 59.61, followed by RuPay at 56.45, Amul at 54.99, and TATA AIG at 54.00. Other strongly recalled brands included Groww, Rajshree Pan Masala, Mutual Fund Sahi Hai, Asian Paints, Google Gemini, and Angel One.

The IPLomania study also evaluated the strongest sponsorship properties for brand visibility during IPL broadcasts. Player jerseys emerged as the highest-performing branding asset, with 55.06% viewers recalling brands displayed on jerseys. This was followed by on-ground and pitch branding at 49.48%, boundary rope branding at 47.36%, commentator and presentation backdrops at 44.75%, helmet branding at 40.27%, player pants branding at 38.20%, and perimeter LCD branding at 36.45%.

The research further captured a major shift in IPL fandom during the 2026 season. Royal Challengers Bangalore  emerged as the most supported IPL franchise this year with 20.25% support share, overtaking Chennai Super Kings (19.35%) and Mumbai Indians (17.83%), both of which witnessed declines compared to the previous season. Rajasthan Royals also recorded notable fan growth, increasing from 5% support in 2025 to 7.28% in 2026.

Among emerging players, Vaibhav Suryavanshi emerged as the biggest breakout player of IPL 2026 with 18.56% audience preference, establishing a significant lead over all other emerging cricketers tracked in the study. Ayush Mhatre followed at 5.09%, while Noor Ahmad, Priyansh Arya, Sameer Rizvi, Jacob Bethell, and Tristan Stubbs also emerged among the key young players attracting audience interest this season.

Commenting on the findings, Pramod Pawar, Quantitative Research – Vice President, Hansa Research Group said,

“The way audiences are interacting with IPL is becoming far more fragmented and continuous than before. Fans today are not just following full matches, but are actively engaging with key moments, highlights, replays, and cricket conversations throughout the day across multiple platforms. This evolution is creating a far more dynamic engagement environment for broadcasters, teams, sponsors, and digital platforms, where audience attention is increasingly distributed across formats, screens, and content moments rather than concentrated only around live television viewing.” 

New Delhi, May 26 (BNP): In a high-stakes showdown, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2026 at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday, with a direct spot in the final up for grabs.

Both teams finished the league stage level on points and were separated only by net run rate, setting the stage for a blockbuster encounter between two of the tournament’s most consistent sides. The winner of the contest will seal a place in the IPL 2026 final, while the losing side will get another opportunity in Qualifier 2.

The clash marks the first-ever playoff meeting between Bengaluru and Gujarat, despite both franchises making the playoffs four times in the last five seasons. Their rivalry has remained finely balanced, with both teams sharing four wins each in eight previous meetings.

RCB head into the contest with a formidable batting line-up led by experienced campaigners and explosive finishers, giving them depth and flexibility in pressure situations. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, will bank heavily on their in-form top order, with captain Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler expected to shoulder the responsibility.

One of the key battles to watch could be between RCB pace spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Gujarat’s top-order batters. The veteran pacer has enjoyed notable success against Gill and Buttler in the T20 format, making the opening exchanges potentially decisive.

RCB will also rely on the experience of Virat Kohli in pressure matches, while skipper Rajat Patidar could play a crucial role in the middle order. Gujarat’s hopes may rest on the bowling brilliance of Rashid Khan and pace ace Kagiso Rabada, especially if the Dharamsala surface assists seam and bounce.

The HPCA Stadium pitch is expected to provide movement and carry for fast bowlers early in the innings, though batters are likely to enjoy stroke play once settled. Chasing teams have traditionally found success at the venue during evening matches.

Weather conditions in Dharamsala are expected to remain pleasant, with only a slight chance of rain earlier in the evening. Officials expect conditions to clear well before the toss, allowing for an uninterrupted contest.

The toss for the much-anticipated Qualifier 1 will take place at 7 PM IST, while the match begins at 7:30 PM IST. Fans can catch the action live on the Star Sports Network, with streaming available on JioHotstar.

With power hitters, proven match-winners and a place in the final at stake, cricket fans can expect towering sixes, game-changing wickets and intense playoff drama in what promises to be one of the biggest clashes of IPL 2026.

May,  26: Chupa Chups, Perfetti Van Melle’s vibrant brand, ushered in the summer season with an exclusive, invite-only poolside summer party, bringing its ‘Summer Ka Fun Funa Fun’ campaign to life. The high-energy afternoon saw a curated mix of creators and trendsetters come together for a burst of flavour, spontaneity, and a bit of sweet & sour fun. Set against a vibrant poolside backdrop, the experience was crafted as the ultimate summer hangout, complete with bold, Chupa Chups-inspired installations, interactive zones and content-ready moments designed to be instantly shareable. From start to finish, every corner invited guests to play, create and capture their own take on summer.

At the heart of the experience was a simple yet creative idea: to make summer all about fun, spontaneous, shareable moments. Chupa Chups brought this alive through immersive zones that reimagined how the brand can be enjoyed. A mocktail bar where guests crafted colourful drinks using Chupa Chups Frozen Jellies as mix-ins, toppings and frozen cubes. Next to it was a masala station for a bold flavour twist pairing jellies with spicy, tangy and sweet seasonings. And, a dessert bar for Indulgent creations featuring Chupa Chups across ice creams, waffles, pancakes and brownies.

Speaking about the initiative, Gunjan Khetan, Director – Marketing, Perfetti Van Melle India, said:

“Summer is a natural playground for heightened self-expression, fun and social sharing. With Chupa Chups, ‘Summer Ka Fun Funa Fun’, our idea was to go beyond just offering a product and inspire new, playful ways to enjoy it during the summer season. It is not just about flavour, but unlocking new consumption occasions, turning everyday summer moments into exciting, shareable experiences. The Poolside Summer party was conceived to help Chupa Chups add a burst of fun to everything from drinks to desserts, making it a natural part of joyful, sharable summer celebrations.”

With a strong creator presence and a visually vibrant setup, the experience extended beyond the venue, driving social buzz and giving audiences a glimpse into the ultimate Chupa Chups summer vibe. As part of its broader campaign, the event serves as a key step in building strong associations between Chupa Chups and summer fun, while generating engaging content that fuels ongoing conversations. By blending product innovation with experiential storytelling, Chupa Chups continues to strengthen its relevance among young consumers and reinforce its position as a brand that transforms everyday moments into playful escapes.

May 26 :  Kingfisher Premium Packaged Drinking Water has once again partnered with JioStar to bring back the Kingfisher Good Times Hangout for the TATA Indian Premier League  Playoffs on JioHotstar, featuring cricket legends Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina, comedians Angad Singh Ranyal, Danish Sait and Gurleen Pannu, along with presenters Aanchal Agarwal and RJ Mantra, in a pioneering alternate live broadcast commentary feed returning bigger this season.

Building on the success of its debut during the TATA Women’s Premier League  earlier this year, this edition raises the stakes with an unmissable line-up that blends cricket insight with unfiltered humour, sharp pop-culture commentary and the kind of banter that turns every over into must-watch entertainment.

The dedicated feed will go live during the TATA IPL Playoffs starting 26 May through to the Final on 31 May, from 6:30 PM onwards, for viewers watching matches live on JioHotstar. To access the feed, select the Kingfisher Good Times Hangout option under the Audio & Subtitles tab while watching the live match.

Commenting on the initiative, Vikram Bahl, Chief Marketing Officer, United Breweries Limited, said,

“Cricket in India is never just about the sport. It’s about the moments you share while watching it. The Kingfisher Good Times Hangout was born from a simple belief that the best cricket memories happen when great sport meets great company. With the TATA IPL Playoffs, we wanted to give fans a viewing experience as dynamic as the tournament itself. Bringing together cricket’s biggest names and some of the country’s most loved comedians on a single platform is our way of saying this is what Good Times look like. We’re pleased to deepen our partnership with JioStar and continue reimagining what live sport can feel like, building on the success of TATA WPL.” 

Anup Govindan, Head of Sales, Sports, JioStar said,

“At JioStar, we are committed to building an ecosystem where brands go beyond visibility and create experiences that fans genuinely value. The Kingfisher Good Times Hangout is exactly that kind of innovation which becomes part of the fan experience and creates a brand environment that younger audiences actually want to spend time in. Playoffs are one of the most-watched, most-engaged moments of the entire TATA IPL season, and a dedicated commentary feed that blends cricket expertise with real entertainment is a genuinely differentiated way to show up in that window.”

Kingfisher Good Times Hangout enhances the live match-viewing experience by bringing together real-time cricket analysis, humour, cultural conversations and the spontaneous energy that makes watching cricket with friends so special, now available at the tap of a button.

By blending sport, entertainment and technology, it delivers a differentiated, genre-bending way to experience live cricket and reinforces Kingfisher Packaged Drinking Water’s long-standing association with moments that bring people together.