
Elon Musk Launches X TV App
By Movieguide® Contributor
Elon Musk bought X, formerly Twitter, in 2022 and plans to expand the platform’s reach through a new TV app.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “The X video app launched Tuesday, with the company touting a handful of key features, including a trending video algorithm, artificial intelligence-powered trending topics and cross-device compatibility, so users can start watching on their phone and continue watching on TV.”
A note sent to the corporate partners stated that the app does not plan to have ads but could add them in the future.
“We’re focusing on launching this new feature for consumers first, but we do plan to monetize it, and will discuss different forms of partnerships — and that may include ads,” the note read.
From the small screen to the big screen X is changing everything. Soon we’ll bring real-time, engaging content to your smart TVs with the X TV App. This will be your go-to companion for a high-quality, immersive entertainment experience on a larger screen. We’re still building it… pic.twitter.com/QhG6cVDpZ8
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) April 23, 2024
This update isn’t a surprise.
“X has been moving toward video for months, announcing a number of partnerships with the likes of Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon to produce original video content, though the latter’s show on X was canceled before it began after Lemon interviewed Musk,” Forbes reported.
Tech Crunch explained that the app launch is part of the company’s “efforts to turn the social media site into a free-speech ‘video first’ platform.”
Like YouTube, the platform will let users upload their own videos but has also “cut deals with some third parties, like a multiyear deal with Range Media Partners,” per The Hollywood Reporter.
“The social network currently features an original show hosted by former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and another by former Fox Sports host Jim Rome,” Tech Crunch added.
Movieguide® previously reported on X:
Internet freedom advocate Mike Benz recently explained that Elon Musk is facing pressure to censor right-leaning users on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, heading into the 2024 election.
“[Musk is] under and extraordinary amount of pressure [to censor conservative users], and that pressure opinions is going to continue to mount as the election approaches,” Benz, a former cyber official with the State Department, told Tucker Carlson.
“I think there are 7 or 8 different Justice Department or SEC or FTC investigations into Elon Musk properties that all started after his acquisition of X,” he added.
However, despite the growing pressure, Benz believes Musk’s other properties give him the leverage he needs. Because the government relies on his SpaceX rockets and the batteries he produces, they cannot completely strong-arm him into complying with their will. Nonetheless, Benz believes they will have their way through a “death by a thousand cuts” approach.