Twitter partners with CNBC-TV18 and SBI for Union Budget updates

Twitter has always valued their association with their Indian users, and they have done it once again by working together with CNBC-TV18 and State Bank of India to bring real time updates from the Annual Union Budget 2017.

Forging a first of its kind deal under the news category with Twitter Amplify, the microblogging platform is targeting the right audience while at the same time providing real time updates and other information pertaining to the Union Budget.

'Budget' is derived from the French word Bouge, meaning a leather bag. Here's some Budget history since independence #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/GlS114CtVe

— CNBC-TV18 News (@CNBCTV18News) January 24, 2017

Under this exclusive new development which is also one of the first such instances in the Asia Pacific Region, here are some of the perks that Twitter users will enjoy, leveraging the platform and various capabilities that it provides.

1. Pre-Budget Day, people will be able to watch videos on Twitter regarding budget expectations and speculations prior to the D-day, shared on the channel’s Twitter account @CNBCTV18News.

2. On Budget Day itself, the Budget speech will be live-streamed on Twitter via Periscope Producer and updates from the live budget speech will be Tweeted out in the form of short clips. First reactions from industry stalwarts, experts & people as well as key highlights will also be Tweeted on the day of the Budget.

3. Post the Budget announcement, people will also get an in-depth understanding of the Budget and its impact on various sectors as well as tax implications for consumers through specially produced industry reaction videos on Twitter.

“People come to Twitter for live breaking news and what’s happening in the world today. We are delighted to have SBI and CNBC-TV18 on board for making Budget 2017 accessible to Indians around the world. The Amplify partnership helps surface the best of the Budget 2017 content on Twitter, making it easier for anyone interested in India to discover the latest news and share their thoughts on the platform as it breaks in real time.” said Viral Jani, Head of TV and Entertainment Partnerships, Twitter India.

Twitter’s Amplify program enables publishers to monetize video content while making it easy for advertisers to reach massive engaged audiences and sponsor exclusive content. Twitter plays a key role in facilitating both content creators and brands to capture the excitement on TV and distribute it to fans and audiences across the platform, far beyond their existing followers. Audiences can immediately relive that moment or experience it for the first time on their mobile phones while they engage in Twitter conversations and enhance their television experience.

CNBC-TV18 aims to make the most out of the changing dynamic between audiences and programming while making premium video content from Budget 2017 available to users.Twitterati will receive spectacular and timely updates that round out their TV experience and remind them to tune in to key budget discussion.

Avinash Kaul, Managing Director, A+E Networks, TV18 and President - Strategy, Product & Alliance, Network 18, said, “Content consumption in India is undergoing a radical shift beyond traditional media formats and we are now entering an era where all screens seems to work seamlessly regardless of its size. As a news broadcaster we realise now is an opportunity for us to create, distribute and innovate with new content formats to tap this digital-first audience. As a leader of the genre, CNBC-TV18 has always been ahead of the curve and this partnership with SBI and Twitter is a testament to many such ‘first’ initiatives that we have taken towards embracing this transformation.”

The partnership will help SBI extend their reach on social media by tapping into the social conversation on Twitter. It will provide a multi-platform strategy essential for satisfying the users’ needs to consume content on mobile, making it a highly preferred medium.

Mrutyunjay Mahapatra DMD&CIO (SBI) said, “As a Banker to Digital India, SBI is known for being technology forward, customer oriented and transparent. Through the partnership with Twitter and CNBC-TV18, we hope to connect with the citizens of India on the most important business and financial issues impacting India in real-time on Budget Day. We believe this will kick start a meaningful dialogue with the BFSI community and contribute towards fulfilling the mission of Digital India.”

Twitter Amplify presents a great opportunity for the content partner with a drastic shift in the way consumers expect and prefer to stay informed regarding events. Most users like to consume content on television and Twitter simultaneously to discuss television in the social space and share their reactions to key moments on Twitter.

With the country being nudged towards a significantly wider digital way of life, from transactions to news updates, this new partnership between a social media platform, a TV network and a financial institution is a signal for positive times ahead.