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If you’ve been craving a new app centered around videos, especially from a platform that still claims to be the “world’s town square,” despite being run by an (ahem) highly unconventional billionaire and seemingly abandoning moderation to the point where you might hesitate to admit using it—well, welcome to X TV.
The app is now available on various app stores, including Google Play, LG’s app store, and the Amazon App Store. However, it’s a bit tricky depending on where you look. For example, while Amazon lists the app as being available since late July, LG’s app store shows it went live on August 29, 2024. Interestingly, a search on Apple TV at the moment only brings up the old Twitter app.
To use X TV, you’ll need an X account to log in and watch content, which is pretty much how X operates across its platform now. The app’s screenshots promise exclusive content, live events, and news. At a glance, it seems like X TV is trying to be a YouTube copycat, though it’s likely to feature more controversial content and cheaper (if any) advertising. Just to put things in perspective, YouTube earned $15.5 billion in ad revenue in the first half of 2024 alone, and $31.5 billion in all of 2023. So, before anyone labels X TV as a YouTube competitor or, even more boldly, a “YouTube killer,” it’s worth keeping those numbers in mind.
The app’s description on Google Play touts X as “the trusted global digital town square for everyone, on your TV! Discover a new way to experience the world of X, as we bring you unique and engaging content right to your living room.” Whether this will hold true is up for debate. Early reviews don’t provide much insight, though one quick review from a Digital Trends colleague described the available content as “a real dumpster fire.” Sounds pretty on-brand for X in 2024. The app is also rated T for Teen on one store and 12+ on another, so maybe there’s nothing to worry about… right?
It’s also worth noting that while there are mentions of X’s privacy policy and terms of service, the functionality seems hit-or-miss. On LG’s version, you can select these options, but can’t actually open them. On the tvOS version, you can’t even select them. And if you download the app from Amazon, you might be nudged toward other apps like the right-wing video service Rumble, Banned Video, Real America’s Voice, and RSBN.
So, everything’s off to a great start.