CBS, Twitter Partner For Convention Coverage

Twitter said on Monday that it would partner with CBS to live-stream the Democratic and Republican National Conventions later this month, as the social media company works to be a leader in broadcasting live news and entertainment.

Under the terms of the partnership according to The NY Times, Twitter will air convention video across its desktop and mobile apps using a live feed from CBSN, the broadcaster’s digital streaming news service. Alongside the video, Twitter will feature a stream of tweets related to the conventions, highlighting the service’s ability to provide real-time commentary.

Anthony Noto

Twitter will make the stream available to people who have not signed up for the service, an audience that the company points to as a part of its total reach. Twitter declined to disclose financial terms of the deal.

“Twitter is the fastest way to find out what’s happening in politics and to have a discussion about it,” said Anthony Noto, Twitter’s chief financial officer. “By bringing the live discussion of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions together with CBSN’s live video stream of the proceedings, we believe we’re giving people around the world the best way to experience democracy in action.”

The partnership is part of Twitter’s renewed push to be known for its live, on-the-spot content surrounding news, which is often indispensable to journalists or viewers when major televised events happen.

Over the last year, Twitter has been the focus of criticism that it lacks product direction and a coherent strategic plan to attract new users to the service. The company’s stock price has fallen by half over the last 12 months, and user growth has stagnated at roughly 310 million regular monthly visitors.

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