Twitter to TV: SAB plans mini-series Khidki

The television channel has partnered with Twitter to create a mini TV series of content generated on the micro-blogging platform.

Social media has influenced every aspect of our lives so much that even entertainment channels are searching for content on it. In a one-of-its-kind initiative, SAB TV has partnered with Twitter India to scout for comic content on the micro-blogging platform for its show Khidki, to be launched in June this year.

In a bid to create awareness about the show and invite entries, the channel has launched a Twitter campaign titled #TweetaFunnyStory which will continue until April 30. Unlike a standard brand promotion on Twitter, the user-generated content created through the campaign will be utilised to create a mini-series on the channel.

As part of the campaign, Sony SAB TV is inviting stories from real life for its new show 'Khidki'. Users can tweet their funny stories in 140 characters on Twitter. Sony SAB, along with the producers of the show J D Majethia and Umesh Shukla of 'Oh My God fame', will shortlist the entries. A live Q&A session will also be held on Twitter's video-streaming app Periscope for users to clear their doubts, or learn more about story-telling.

The stories must be real, unique yet funny, and something that is really cherished by that person. The shortlisted stories will then be presented in the form of an episodic series on the channel with the families getting a chance to be a part of the series as the story heads towards the climax.

Speaking about the initiative, Anooj Kapoor, senior executive vice-president and business head, SAB TV, says, "Sourcing user-generated content from a powerful social medium like Twitter, and presenting it to a larger universe on the SAB platform, is an experiment which I am confident will pave newer ways for content development in Indian television."

Apart from tweeting, viewers can also submit their funny stories on www.sabtv.com or email on humarifunnykahani@setindia.com.

Viral Jani, head of TV Partnerships, Twitter India, says, "India continues to witness a social TV movement in India today. With this unique initiative by SAB, for the first time, one's Tweet can create and shape his/her own TV series on a leading broadcast channel. It is a first-of-its-kind move seen in the country."