PEPSI® and MTV Partner to Create Fresh New Reality Dating Series, Match Me If You Can, in Celebration of The Surprisingly Perfect Match - Pepsi Mango

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04/13/2021 - 09:00 AM

PURCHASE, N.Y., April 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pepsi and MTV dropped a trailer to announce the upcoming debut of Match Me If You Can, a fresh spin on reality show dating inspired by the latest surprising perfect match - Pepsi and mango. Pepsi Mango and MTV set out to answer the age-old question - what if your favorite stars from across the reality TV universe were mixed up together for a chance to find their surprising perfect match? Produced by ViacomCBS' in-house branded content studio, Velocity, Pepsi Mango and MTV are giving these stars another swipe at love with Match Me If You Can. The digital series is the latest innovative content concept from brand Pepsi and marks the nationwide launch of Pepsi Mango as the brand's first permanent flavor introduction in five years. The new flavor launch also marks the brand's first permanent release of a Regular and Zero Sugar variety at the same time, designed to support consumers' growing preference for sugar-free offerings, without having to sacrifice great taste.

Pepsi Mango and MTV will bring together eight bright stars from the reality TV universe for a new five-part crossover dating series that pairs fan favorites from different franchises together for the first time. As seen with Pepsi Mango, it's often the most surprising pairings that work best together. This perfect match is what inspired show producers to not only bring together two daters from different franchises in each episode, but also set them up with unexpected activities for the ultimate dating experience.

While MTV brings its own expertise in this space, Pepsi and ViacomCBS Velocity also enlisted the help of producer, industry stalwart and founder of TheYearofElan Productions, Elan Gale, to partner on the project. Reality dating show success story, Lauren Speed Hamilton, will host the series. Match Me If You Can welcomes a diverse and exciting roster of reality veterans including Ashley Brooke Mitchell, Eric Bigger, Harry Jowsey, Onyeka Ehie, Natalie Negrotti, Kyra Green, Joey Sasso and Kylie Smith.

"I'm so excited to join Pepsi and MTV as the host of Match Me If You Can," said Lauren Speed Hamilton. "While I was able to find love on reality TV, that combination doesn't work for everyone. So, we're shaking it up by bringing unexpected pairings on surprising dates to try to find that elusive perfect match, just like Pepsi Mango! I can't wait to show the world what we uncovered!"

The first episode of Match Me If You Can will debut during the finale of the 36^th season of MTV's hit show, "The Challenge: Double Agents," through commercial break takeovers - a new concept from Pepsi and MTV that merges fandoms and creates a show within a show. In tandem, the first episode will drop on MTV's YouTube channel, YouTube.com/MTV. The remaining four episodes, including the finale, will premiere on MTV's YouTube channel, the first-ever dating show co-produced with a brand to do so. The concept of the show – bringing together unexpected pairs to create sparks and an eventual perfect match – is informed by the popularity of reality dating shows and the surprising perfect match of Pepsi Mango, which hit grocery store shelves nationwide last month and was met with surprise, excitement, and intrigue from consumers.

"With the explosion of reality dating shows and online dating apps, it's clear people are continuing to look for new and different ways to find their perfect match. With the launch of Pepsi Mango, we also know that sometimes a perfect match can be quite surprising," said Todd Kaplan, Vice President of Marketing of Pepsi. "That's why we at Pepsi couldn't be more excited to partner with ViacomCBS and MTV to create a new, unexpected and unconventional reality dating series, Match Me if You Can, bringing together some of the biggest names in reality TV for the chance to find their surprising perfect match."

"We are so thrilled to premiere Match Me if You Can in partnership with Pepsi Mango and MTV. By leveraging consumer insights around modern dating and our creative expertise, we were able to create a fun, unapologetic digital series with an all-star cast and crew that will not only embody everything fans love in a dating show but will also authentically generate excitement and engagement around Pepsi's newest flavor as only Velocity can," said Matthew Newcomb, SVP, Marketing Activation, ViacomCBS Velocity. "Pepsi has been a great partner and we look forward to continuously innovating and engaging fans throughout this series and beyond."

Match Me If You Can debuts on MTV during the finale episode of "The Challenge: Double Agents" and on MTV's YouTube on April 21 at 8 PM ET, with subsequent episodes launching on MTV YouTube each Wednesday. To indulge consumers in one of the most satisfying activities – binge-watching – after the series' initial debut, all five episodes will also be available on demand on Pluto TV.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $70 billion in net revenue in 2020, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, Tropicana and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of our business strategy and brands. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

About VIACOMCBS

ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC; VIACA) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, its portfolio includes CBS, SHOWTIME, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+ and Pluto TV, among others. The company delivers the largest share of the television audience in the United States and one of the industry's most extensive libraries of television and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, ViacomCBS provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions.