Bharti Airtel’s Sunil Mittal upbeat on content collaboration amidst Disney-Reliance deal

In a recent interview with CNBC-TV18, Sunil Bharti Mittal, the Founder and Chairman of Bharti Airtel, shared his views on the recent developments in the entertainment industry, particularly the collaboration between Disney, Viacom, and Reliance. The conversation delved into the impact of this partnership and how Bharti Airtel positions itself in this evolving landscape.

When questioned about the impact of the Disney-Viacom-Reliance partnership and the move towards bundled services, Mittal responded positively, stating, “We’ve always said we will partner with content providers; we have never been in content. Therefore, we will reach out to the new combination of Viacom-Disney; they will be one of our providers on a non-discriminatory basis.”

Mittal highlighted that Bharti Airtel already has relationships with major content providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Zee, and Sony. He expressed optimism about the industry consolidation, stating, “I think this consolidation is good for the industry. And I only hope that everything will be provided to all the networks on a non-discriminatory basis. So we welcome this move and look forward to a healthy relationship with the providers.”

Sunil Mittal optimistic about India-UK free trade agreement
In the same interview, Mittal also shared insights into the potential signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK. Expressing optimism, he mentioned that both countries are very close to finalising the agreement, emphasising the need for understanding each other’s demands and positions to move forward with the talks.

Mittal highlighted the complementarities between India and the UK, stating, “It’s a much smaller market compared to India, but it’s got strength in biotech, defense, and various technologies.” He acknowledged the collaboration between Oxford University and the Serum Institute in producing the COVID-19 vaccine in a quick timeframe, showcasing the potential for fruitful partnerships between the two nations.  CNBC TV18