Title: Airtel Partners with Apple to Offer Apple TV+ and Apple Music to High-Tier Customers in India
In a strategic move, Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator, has announced a partnership with Apple to provide Apple TV+ and Apple Music services to its premium broadband and postpaid customers. This collaboration will see Airtel discontinuing its own Wynk Music streaming platform, with the new changes set to go live later this year.
Apple's vice president of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Sports, and Beats, Oliver Schusser, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that Airtel customers in India will soon have access to a wide range of content through Apple TV+ and Apple Music.
Despite the surprise decision to shut down Wynk Music, which had shown modest growth, Airtel assures that customers will still have access to music streaming services through Apple Music. Additionally, Wynk Premium subscribers will receive exclusive offers from Airtel for Apple services.
The move to discontinue Wynk Music comes amidst tough competition from international players like Spotify and Apple Music, who offer their services in India at competitive prices. This shift in the market dynamics has seen companies like Times Internet selling their music streaming services for a fraction of their initial investment.
Both Airtel and its main competitor Jio are focusing on enhancing their content and service bundles to attract high-value customers in India, offering packages that include access to multiple streaming platforms, education, and health services.
In conclusion, this partnership between Airtel and Apple signifies a shift in the telecom and entertainment landscape in India, with customers set to benefit from a wider range of content options. The decision to discontinue Wynk Music reflects the evolving preferences of consumers and the competitive nature of the music streaming market. Investors should keep an eye on how these changes impact Airtel's customer base and revenue streams in the coming months.