iWorld
Saugato Bhowmik may replace Gandhi as Viacom18 Digital COO
MUMBAI: Soon after the news of Gaurav Gandhi leaving Viacom18 was announced last week, speculation was rife about who would take the hot seat to lead the company’s digital arm Viacom18 Digital Ventures, under which Voot operates.
A source close to the development has told Indiatelevision.com that Saugato Bhowmik is the top choice among those gunning for the spot of COO.
Although the company is still said to be considering various profiles, the management seems to have narrowed down its choice to Bhowmik.
Bhowmik currently serves as the executive vice president and business head of consumer products and integrated network solutions at Viacom18 leading two key businesses, which are tasked to build the network’s brands outside the broadcast and movie studio space.
He joined Viacom18 in 2013 and has a rich experience and understanding of consumer behaviour and insights. Bhowmik began his career at Dabur India as the area sales manager in 2002 and moved to Hindustan Unilever in 2004 where he refined his consumer-marketing skills in strategic brand management roles for key brands for India as well as globally.
Gandhi quit Viacom18 after eight years. Launched in 2016, Voot is Viacom’s digital service that offers content in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Bengali.
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Gaming
Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons launch India’s first official F1 sim racing championship
Nationwide competition creates pathway from virtual racing to pro motorsport
MUMBAI: Formula 1 has teamed up with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to launch India’s first officially sanctioned F1 sim racing competition, marking a new step in the country’s growing motorsport ecosystem.
The championship, titled F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, will offer a structured national platform for sim racers, with participants competing on the official F1 25 across multiple stages. The competition will begin with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, before culminating in a national final in Mumbai this November.
Open to players across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, registrations for the event will begin on 30 April via the Mumbai Falcons app. The format mirrors real-world racing, featuring official circuits, team liveries and competitive structures aligned with the global series.
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said the initiative arrives at a time when interest in the sport is surging in India, adding that a structured sim racing platform could help identify and nurture the next generation of talent.
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited managing director Ameet Gadhoke noted that the championship aligns with the team’s long-term goal of building a strong motorsport pipeline in the country and placing Indian talent on the global stage.
The launch also reflects broader momentum in esports, especially after its recognition under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. By bridging gaming and real-world racing, the initiative aims to offer aspiring drivers a credible entry point into professional motorsport.
With interest in Formula 1 steadily rising and conversations around its return to India gaining pace, the new championship could become a proving ground for future racing stars.
