Dentsu India launches dedicated podcast network, targets brands eyeing brand reach through podcasting

Mumbai, India — Dentsu India has announced the launch of the Dentsu Podcast Network (DPN), a new vertical aimed at helping brands reach audiences through podcasting. The initiative reflects the growing importance of audio content in the Indian media landscape and is positioned as an integrated part of Dentsu’s broader brand strategy offerings.

The DPN will offer end-to-end services including podcast production, hosting, distribution, and monetisation. Dentsu says the network is intended to help brands move beyond traditional marketing by building deeper engagement with audiences across India’s diverse linguistic and cultural segments.

As part of the launch, the agency has appointed Aditya Kuber, Agith Kuruvilla, and Ashwin Gangakhedkar as vice presidents. For their new roles, they are to report to Sahil Shah, Dentsu Creative Isobar CEO to collaborate with various teams across Dentsu’s creative, media and customer experience divisions. The three executives were previously with Ideabrew Studios, one of India’s prominent podcast networks, where they were involved in developing over 650 shows and working with more than 100 brands. 

Sahil Shah shared, “Podcasts are no longer a niche; they are the most immersive and authentic way to connect with audiences across languages. With the Dentsu Podcast Network (DPN) and the proven expertise of Aditya, Agith, and Ashwin, we are creating a future-ready solution that can tap into India’s cultural pulse and deliver meaningful impact for branded narratives. This is about stories that resonate deeply, travel widely, and perform consistently.”

In a joint statement, Aditya, Agith, and Ashwin added, “Podcasting is the next frontier for India’s creators and brands – a place where stories become culture, and culture becomes connection. In a country of many languages and countless subcultures, podcasts offer brands a powerful, human, and hyper-local medium to engage audiences like never before.”

They further explained, “With dentsu’s global scale and India’s creative energy, we are ready to reimagine how podcasts are created, distributed, and monetised – from vernacular hits to national chart-toppers, from audio intimacy to video innovation. For the first time in India, a podcast network is embedded within a global agency ecosystem, making it a core pillar of modern brand and media strategy.”

Amit Wadhwa, CEO of Dentsu Creative & Media Brands, South Asia, also weighed in on the development, stating, “With the Dentsu Podcast Network, we are unlocking the next frontier of branded content – where culture, creativity, and commerce converge. This is more than a media launch; it is a bold step towards shaping narratives that travel from the heart of Bharat to audiences across the globe, influencing how brands engage in the decade ahead.”

Looking ahead, DPN plans to introduce original branded series, creator partnerships, vernacular-first content, video podcast formats, and other audio storytelling innovations. According to the company, these initiatives aim to leverage India’s cultural and linguistic diversity in ways that align with evolving media consumption trends.

The launch also marked Dentsu India’s continued focus on cultural marketing and branded content, with podcasting now being positioned as a strategic channel within its media mix.