In what started as a job posting making rounds on WhatsApp with Airtel calling for a content manager to manage the Airtel TV and Airtel Music Apps seems things are getting real at the telecom giant. The job post required someone who would also handle other responsibilities that have to do with the Airtel website and the like.
Key to note is the fact that the core duties tie with the aforementioned apps which got us thinking that perhaps, Airtel is ready to sail these waters given the proliferation of data usage amongst Ugandans.
This, however, won’t be Airtel’s first attempt at launching OTT apps that offer to stream TV and now music for that matter. Mid last year, Airtel partnered with Kwese to launch Kwese iFlix, an over the top mobile TV service.
The launch was followed with Kwese-iFlix data bundles whose validity was based on days for which one could stream and access the content.
We are safe to bet that Airtel will follow a similar model with the launch of the Airtel TV and Airtel Music apps as other payment modes are not widely adopted by Ugandans, especially cards.
The candidate is also said to source for partnerships which brings up questions regarding the content these apps will carry. Has Airtel already partnered with TV and music providers? In any case, this is true, who are these entities?
Kwese iFlix launched with a catalogue of Kwese TV channels but unfortunately, Kwese TV has gone under administration with a looming uncertainty over its operations and the content it used to offer. It would make sense for Airtel to fill this gap as the country continues to go mobile, with over 85% of all internet connections registered in the country being mobile.
These won’t be the first Airtel TV and Airtel Music apps to be launched under the Airtel umbrella, similar launches have happened in India and are now this might be getting an extension in Africa.
Airtel’s competition is also riding high on Tidal, a music streaming app for its Pulse sub-brand that mainly targets the youth, Airtel Music and Airtel TV could be the answers to this as telecoms increasingly look at data and data as growth drivers with dwindling voice revenues.
Airtel declined to comment by press time.
