Facebook to Launch Instant Articles With India Today and Aaj Tak as Partners

NEW DELHI, November 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Social media giant has launched Instant Articles on Facebook for the first time in India with India Today Group, viz. India Today, the country's leading english news channel and Aaj Tak, India's number #1 Hindi news source for 15 years now (which is #1 on Facebook as well), along with DailyO, an online opinion platform from the same Group. Apart from the name of India Today Group, three other names in news & media industry have appeared as partners with Facebook on 16 November, 2015. Instant Articles are available to all iOS users and a few Android users to enhance their news reading experience on Facebook.

India Today Group meets its readers where they are - i.e. its own sites, magazines, and newspaper. Then, how could it have overlooked the social media platform that is frequented by millions every day? India Today, Aaj Tak and DailyO already have a huge Facebook fan base. The idea behind the launch of Instant Articles is to explore new ways to connect with the audience and extend user engagement.

Kalli Purie, Group Editorial Director (Broadcast & New Media), The India Today Group, says, "India Today Group already has a growing audience on Facebook and we are really excited about Instant Articles as it will help us connect with our readers faster and in new interactive ways. We are story tellers and anything that lets us tell our readers the story in a more compelling way, is always welcome."

A large number of Instant Articles is available every day for 100% iOS users and a small percentage for Android users right from within their Facebook app, and that too, instantly! The tool enables the publishers to provide a better experience for its readers on Facebook.

The Instant Articles can be loaded up to 10 times faster, according to Facebook and the interactive features allow the publishers to bring stories to life in unique ways. Users can tilt their phones to explore high-resolution photos. Watch auto-play videos come alive as they scroll through stories. Discover interactive maps, listen to audio captions and even like and comment on individual parts of an article in-line.

Andy Mitchell, Director, News and Global Media Partnerships, says, "We've heard very good feedback from people who are enjoying the fast article loading and interactive experience, and have heard from publishers that they are happy about the experience they can deliver, the results that they are seeing in terms of engagement, and the tools that they have to manage their ads and analytics. We're thrilled to be able to collaborate with a leading publisher like India Today to bring those capabilities to their readers on Facebook."

As the number of people using mobile devices for news is increasing by the day, the idea to launch Instant Articles surely makes the experience faster and richer for India Today Group users on Facebook.

About India Today Group

The India Today Group began with a single magazine, India Today, in 1975. India Today has retained its leadership position in India for close to four decades.

India Today Group is India's leading and most diversified media conglomerate with magazines, newspapers, books, radio, television, printing and the internet. India Today Group Digital (ITGD) repurposes content from its flagship magazine, India Today; leading news channels - Aaj Tak, India Today, business magazine- Business Today, and Indian editions of the international power brands like Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, Good Housekeeping, Travel Plus and Men's Health. ITGD ensures that the premium content of the India Today Group is available in several digital formats.

For further details contact:
Mr. Vishwalok Nath
vishwalok.nath@intoday.com
Head - Marketing & Syndications - India Today Group Digital