IBNLive.com is the most comprehensive online destination for Union Budget ‘09

Media News

New Delhi, July 01, 2009

It is that time of the year again when all eyes are set on the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee getting ready to present the Union Budget. In the backdrop of a global economic meltdown, there are hopes pinned on what Pranab Mukherjee has to offer to the industry, the common man and the investors in Union Budget 2009. CNN-IBN’s award-winning portal IBNLive.com will deconstruct and decode Union Budget 2009 in a simple and friendly manner, minus all the jargon. Apart from news updates through text and videos, IBNLive.com in its special Budget coverage, will also have comprehensive coverage on the Railway Budget.

In order to maximise interactivity on the Web, IBNLive.com will also give users the opportunity to Chat with sector and industry experts. Dream Budget gives the options of matching their Budget priorities. As part of its endeavour to engage with the news, IBNLive.com will also have live online peer-to-peer debates, drawing out informed and intelligent crowd to discuss and analyse among themselves in IBN Conversations. Open Blogs gives users a window to air their Budget expectations and aspirations. Keeping the interactive tempo alive, Tax Calculator will help users figure out their income and expenditure. Users can also upload their own video responses to debates initiated by Senthil Chengalvarayan, President & Group Editorial Director, TV18 Business Media. IBNLive.com has created a dedicated micro-site ibnlive.com/budget2009 which will house all information on Budget 09. Users can also visit m.ibnlive.com for real-time updates on mobile.

IBNLive.com’s Budget coverage will also feature chats and columns by Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-In-Chief, IBN18 Network and Vivian Fernandes, Economic Policy Editor, CNBC TV18.

The pre-Budget coverage on the website will highlight the expectations of people across the country and important sectors like the Telecom, Auto, IT, FMCG etc from the Budget. The website post-Budget will go a step further to gauge the impact of these policies on the common man and industry and will draw out their reactions on the Budget of Hope.

Budget Day coverage will include LIVE UPDATES as Pranab Mukherjee speaks in Parliament. It will also have Live Streaming of the Budget Day proceedings straight from Parliament.

As part of its post-Budget coverage, there will also be a quick finder on What’s Cheaper, What’s Dearer after the Budget. Apart from this, there will also be post-mortem articles and chats with industry captains on the industry reaction to the Budget. There will also be chats with experts on various old and new policies mentioned in the Budget.

Mr. Roshan Tamang, Vice President & Editor - News Information & Support, Web18, said, "IBNLive.com with its in-depth coverage and availability on the internet and WAP is the single reference point for all the information on Budget 09. Special features like Chats with Experts, Blogs, Tax Calculator all have been specifically designed keeping in mind the visitors information needs. The website will define both and Macro and Micro economic indicators in a manner that will be beneficial and indulgent for netizens."

Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai Editor-in-Chief IBN18 Network said, "The special interactive features on IBNlive.com throughout the budget season will focus on making the budget analysis relevant to the public across age groups and social strata’s. The website will provide a lucid analysis of the budget that will enable viewers to understand the impact of the budget on the economy and their personal lives."

For further information, please contact:

Hanmer MS&L

Dimple Mehta

Tel: + 91-11-46517700/165

Email: dimple@hanmermsl.com