FT, WSJ Asia embrace digital channels

Today, the FT launched two new apps for the Indian market. The web apps (which bypass Apple's iTunes store) are designed to work across a range of screens from large tablets and small-screen phones.

The web app grants users free access to all stories on the homepage, exclusively in India. It also features tailored content covering the latest Indian and international business news and analysis.

The launch is aimed at accellerating FT's growth in the country, said Rob Grimshaw, managing director at FT.com. “With rapid economic growth and an ever increasing number of talented and influential business leaders, India has long been a strategically important market for Financial Times," he added.

Meanwhile, the WSJ Asia has expanded its 'Power List' rankings into social media with the launch of a game app on Facebook. The Power List game tests the player's ability to identify top business and political leaders making news across Asia. Prizes will be awarded to top-scoring players over the first three weeks of the game's activation.

"We wanted to create an educational and engaging atmosphere that would attract younger readers and people active in social media interested in learning about Asia’s most dynamic business and political leaders," commented Olivier Legrand, Asia-Pacific general manager of The Wall Street Journal Digital Network.

Over the past year both publications have embarked on digital strategies aimed at communicating the title's content across a variety of digital platforms on global and local levels. The move is aimed at appealing to a broader readership base by increasing accessibility to the publications.

Some of these initiatives include WSJ's Facebook app which enables reades to share and subscribe to content, and the FT's launch of its global webb app and a tool to assist MBA students and professors.