iWorld
Apple commits $4.2 bn for original content
MUMBAI: Apple can’t get enough of taking more bites. The Cupertino-based company is reportedly spending a whopping $4.2 billion a year on coming up with original content by 2022.
According to a report in Variety, this amount is much higher than the original commitment of $1 billion in 2018. Despite the effort, Apple will still lag the budgets set by video on demand giants Amazon and Netflix. Amazon’s pocket will turn up $8.3 billion for original video content, the highest for any tech giant. This will also shadow Netflix’s $6.8 billion margin.
Much of Apple’s current programming has been music-based but the company is looking at looking eye-to-eye with contemporaries – Amazon, Netflix and Hulu. This will involve beating them where are best – shows and movies. Apple Music will be rebranded in the next 2-3 years which will also give it a headstart with its 30 million subscriber base. They will get video content access at just $10 a month.
The idea behind focussing on a new territory is to give a boost to its services vertical, which is expected to make up 14 per cent of the revenue in 2017.
For now the company has planned two offerings, Amazing Stories reboot from Steven Spielberg and a news-business comedy with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.
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.
