CNBC Debuts On Google Home

by Laurie Sullivan@lauriesullivan, December 16, 2016

CNBC announced Friday the launch of @CNBC. The feature, available through Actions on Google for Google Home devices, allows users to get business news, stock insights and CNBC TV schedule information. The move marks the beginning of a new way to brand audio content through Internet-connected devices. 

@CNBC will also provide continual updates of market and business news from CNBC Radio and will become part of the Narrated News feature for anyone who owns Google Home. “Fast Money” and “Nightly Business Report” podcasts also are available on the Narrated News feature.

The free content, only available in the U.S., also includes commentary from “On-Air Stocks” editor Bob Pisani and real-time market snapshots so users get a pulse on how the markets are doing with information from the DOW, S&P 500 and NASDAQ.

Google and CNBC provided a voice clip of the content, allowing a glimpse into what listeners will hear after searching for news, stock quotes, etc. If a user says “OK, Google, let me talk to CNBC about the markets,” Google responds with “Here is a check on today’s market activity from CNBC,” branding the content with the broadcasting company’s name.

Google’s API, Conversation Actions, allow users to have two-way interactions. When users request an action, the Google Assistant processes the request, determines the best action to take and begins the dialog through trigger words.

CNBC isn’t the only news organization taking advantage of branding on Google Home. VentureBeat, with help from bot platform Gupshup, launched on Google Home as part of the Actions on Google initiative. Others include BuzzFeed, CNN and The Wall Street Journal.

Gupshup and VentureBeat will add omnichannel functionality for the bot in early 2017, including Slack, Telegram, Facebook Messenger and other platforms, according to the companies. 

MediaPost.com: Search Marketing Daily

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