Twitter Developing Video App for Smart TVs

Twitter’s plans include a video app for smart TVs.

Owner Elon Musk said this Saturday (June 17) in response to a tweet that said: “We really need a Twitter video app for Smart TVs. I’m not watching an hourlong video on Twitter.”

“It’s coming,” Musk said in his reply.

The reply came two days after Musk and Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino said in an investor presentation that the company plans to focus on video, creator and commerce partnerships, Reuters reported Saturday, citing a presentation it had reviewed.

The company aims to sell ads and sponsorships to accompany content creators’ videos, according to the report.

Yaccarino was named Twitter’s new CEO, succeeding Musk, in May after having been an ad executive at NBCUniversal.

Musk had announced days earlier that he would transition into a new role as executive chair and chief technology officer.

In a May 13 reply to a tweet by Musk, Yaccarino said: “I’ve long been inspired by your vision to create a brighter future. I’m excited to help bring this vision to Twitter and transform this business together!”

A video app for smart TVs would be the latest addition made to Twitter’s offerings.

Earlier in May, Musk said the social media platform was adding encrypted direct messages (DMs) and voice and video chat.

About a week earlier, on April 30, Musk said Twitter was rolling out a new feature to let media outlets charge users on a per-article basis, enabling users to pay a higher per-article price when they don’t want to sign up for a monthly subscription.

Earlier in April, Twitter launched a subscriptions feature to enable users to monetize their content on the platform by offering their followers access to bonus content and badges that make it easier to chat and connect.

These moves come at a time when Twitter competitors are expanding their offerings as well.

For example, Meta is reportedly developing a text-based app that is said to be “Meta’s response to Twitter.”

The app was demonstrated to Meta employees during an all-hands meeting on June 8 and will be launched “as soon as we can,” according to a Wall Street Journal report.