iWorld
Viu appoints Bimal Unnikrishnan as India content head
MUMBAI: Viu, leading OTT service by PCCW and Vuclip, has appointed Bimal Unnikrishnan as Vice President Content for India to focus on the service’s original content portfolio. Bimal will report to Vishal Maheshwari, Country Head for Viu India.
Bimal will focus on driving a strong content-led value proposition for consumers, as well as strengthen the Original Content library for the brand through the 30 + originals that Viu has announced slated to launch in 2018. He joins Viu with more than two decades of rich and diverse experience in direction and programming division and has proven to be a leader with his exceptional entertainment segment knowledge. In his long and successful career, he has held leadership roles with various media companies including Sony Entertainment Television and Reliance Big Magic.
Speaking about the new appointment, Viu, Country Head, Vishal Maheshwari said, “It’s an exciting phase for Viu. With Bimal’s leadership, depth of knowledge and expertise, we are confident that we will continue to build Viu as preferred destination for Indian Original content. Stay tuned for exciting Originals from Viu.”
Speaking about his new role, Bimal Unnikrishnan said, “It gives me immense pleasure to be part of Asian regional OTT leader Viu. Viu has already emerged as the leading regional platform in South East Asia Markets. I am looking forward to working with the highly-driven and talented team which has been recognized for delivering unique, differentiated, youth-centric content offerings and create captivating Indian shows for audience around the world.
Globally Viu Originals will see 70 titles and 900+ episodes of locally produced content by end of 2018 with 30+ original coming from India alone.
iWorld
Airtel bets big on digital lending with Rs 20,000 Cr NBFC push
Telecom giant aims to transform India’s credit scene with a high-scale NBFC plan
NEW DELHI: Bharati Airtel is taking a bold step into the financial world. The telecom giant has announced plans to supercharge its Non-Banking Financial Company, Airtel Money Limited, with a whopping Rs 20,000 crore over the coming years.
Airtel will fund 70 per cent of the capital, with the remaining 30 per cent coming from the promoter group via Bharti Enterprises Limited. The move is designed to narrow India’s credit gap and bring simple, secure digital lending to more consumers.
The company is not starting from scratch. Its existing digital lending platform has already disbursed over Rs 9,000 crore, backed by smart underwriting, disciplined portfolio management, and real-time risk monitoring. With 500 plus data scientists and robust analytics, Airtel claims it has built one of the country’s most trusted lending service provider models.
Bharti Airtel executive vice chairman Gopal Vittal said, “Our success over the past two years shows how technology, data, and customer trust can create impact at a national scale. With this NBFC expansion, we aim to build a future-ready digital lending business that stands for trust, innovation, and inclusion.”
Airtel Money received its NBFC licence from the Reserve Bank of India on 13 February 2026. The expansion taps into India’s fast-growing financial sector, where formal credit accounts for just 53 per cent of GDP, highlighting huge room for growth.
The NBFC’s operations will integrate seamlessly with Airtel’s existing lending platform, keeping processes clear for customers while delivering a smooth experience. By leveraging its vast telecom customer base, Airtel aims to set a new benchmark in digital financial services and make lending accessible, simple, and reliable.
The Reserve Bank of India has noted that while Airtel Money has a valid registration certificate, it does not guarantee the company’s financial soundness or the repayment of liabilities.
