Elon Musk’s X is reportedly gearing up to launch an app described as “identical” to YouTube’s TV offering for smart televisions, possibly as soon as next week. This move is part of Musk’s broader strategy to position X as the “everything app,” with a focus on encouraging users to watch longer videos on larger screens, as reported by sources.
According to the same report, Musk is determined to compete directly with YouTube. The upcoming video app from X will initially be exclusive to Amazon and Samsung smart TVs.
In addition to launching the TV app, Musk is actively working to expand longer-form content on the platform. He recently enlisted popular YouTuber MrBeast to create content for X and struck a deal with former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who is scheduled to premiere an exclusive show on X on March 18th.
Here is his tweet:-
In 2017, YouTube TV entered the market as a subscription-based internet television service, providing a competitive alternative to traditional cable options. Offering a comprehensive lineup of over 70 major US networks, including Fox News, ABC, CBS, NBC, and ESPN, along with an extensive on-demand library of movies and TV shows.
The possibility of X launching a similar platform follows its recent declaration, made in a blog post last month, that it’s shifting away from its text-centric origins to become a “video-first platform.” This move allows users to upload long-form videos to the platform.
According to data shared in an early January blog post, video content dominates user engagement on X, with people watching videos in eight out of every ten user sessions.
When The Post reached out to X for comment, the press email auto-response stated, “Busy now, please check back later,” a response consistent since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company for $44 billion in October 2022, when it was known as Twitter.
Following the launch of the imminent TV app, Musk reportedly aims to expand X’s reach to compete with other digital services, including livestreaming platform Twitch, encrypted messaging app Signal, and social media forum Reddit, as per sources cited by Fortune.
Meanwhile, Musk has set an October 2024 deadline for his employees to develop a payments processing mechanism that could potentially replace traditional bank accounts. “When I say payments, I actually mean someone’s entire financial life,” Musk emphasized during an all-hands meeting late last year.
Elon Musk expressed his ambitious vision, stating, “If it involves money, it’ll be on our platform,” emphasizing, “I’m talking about, like, you won’t need a bank account.”
Upon acquiring the platform, Musk articulated his aspiration for X to become a “super-app,” akin to China’s WeChat, integrating instant messaging, social media, mobile payments, video conferencing, and other functionalities.
In pursuit of this goal, X has revamped its paid verification system, expanded character limits from 280 to 25,000, introduced video and audio calling features, and implemented payment models to enable creators to monetize their content on the platform.