X has introduced its 18th X Originals video collection, with a brand new “NFL Prime 100” program set to air solely on the platform from subsequent week.
As defined by X:
“Produced by NFL Movies, ‘NFL Prime 100’ will characteristic three-to-five-minute episodes highlighting the league’s high 100 gamers, as voted on solely by present NFL gamers. Episodes will debut weekdays at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET on X and NFL+ starting June 30 and working by means of Friday, August 29.”
So, it’ll additionally air on NFL+, which makes it a semi-exclusive, I suppose. However both means, it’ll give X one other large sports activities present so as to add to its slate of video programming, because it appears to be like to spice up video engagement, consistent with its publicly said “video-first” focus.
X has maintained Twitter’s broadcast partnership with the NFL, and has labored with the league on varied activations, together with its in-app gameday portal.
And provided that sports activities is the preferred matter of debate within the app, and the NFL is probably the most mentioned sport, it is sensible for X to make this a spotlight, particularly as Meta appears to be like to include its personal sports activities engagement choices on Threads.
It additionally is sensible for the NFL, with thousands and thousands of followers partaking within the app.
The collection will run for 10 weeks, main into the 2025 NFL season, and can ideally assist to take care of X as a key platform for NFL followers.
Although, given its “video first” focus, X continues to be lagging behind by way of unique content material.
As famous, this will likely be X’s 18th “X Originals” program, although many of the programming that it is signed up has been pretty area of interest.
At this stage, X’s Originals have been:
- Khloe Kardashian in her “Khloe in Wonderland” interview present
- Anthony Pompliano in his business-focused program “From the Desk of Anthony Pompliano”
- Paris Hilton, in a yet-to-be-announced challenge (which now appears to have been dumped)
- Tucker Carlson, whose interviews had been producing thousands and thousands of views within the app (earlier than he migrated to his personal platform)
- Don Lemon, whose X present was canceled after he interviewed Elon Musk
- Tulsi Gabbard, who had been creating a collection of documentary-style applications targeted on U.S. politics (now seemingly dumped)
- Jim Rome who’s nonetheless airing his present “The Jungle” within the app
- WWE, which is airing a weekly “WWE Pace” present within the app
- The Massive 3 league of retired NBA gamers, which aired weekly video games within the app final season (now airing on CBS)
- Rap battle present Verzuz, which is seeking to make a comeback on X
- Funding-based present “Going Public”
- Soccer docu-series “The Offseason”
- NHL’s “4 Nations” match
- Athlos athletic occasions
- Particular docu-series “The Artwork of the Surge” specializing in Trump’s re-election, and “All-In with the Boston Celtics”
X can also be set to air a new program with Venus and Serena Williams later within the 12 months, which is one other big-name sports activities program, aligning with X consumer pursuits.
However as you may see, X hasn’t actually attracted, or held onto any main identify content material, and it’s laborious to view the platform as a “video first” providing as but, regardless of what X itself retains saying.
I had anticipated X to draw some bigger-name exhibits, utilizing the connections of CEO Linda Yaccarino, who beforehand headed advert partnerships at NBCUniversal, and presumably has an enormous Rolodex of connections to name up in consequence. However to this point, these connections appear to solely have introduced in some large names from yesteryear, like Paris Hilton, and a lesser Kardashian.
X had additionally made a splash on political content material, signing up varied commentators final 12 months. However given the way in which that the corporate, and Elon Musk particularly, dealt with the take care of Don Lemon, that might have additionally spooked some large names, and saved them away from the app.
However then once more, on the flip aspect, 18 X Originals is critical, and X says that it’s hosted over 300 episodes of its Originals applications over the previous two years.
It doesn’t really feel like X’s video push is actually gaining traction, and its removed from what most would contemplate a “video first” platform as but. However video views within the app are rising, and because it continues to search for new content material companions, perhaps that can, ultimately, yield extra important development outcomes for the app.
Which, in fact, is the important thing focus. Regardless of X’s proclamations of large innovation and progress, the app is just about the identical because it was when Elon took over, by way of performance a minimum of, and it’s step by step shedding customers over time, whereas Threads continues to achieve.
That’s seemingly pushing X to refine its programming focus onto its key areas of viewers curiosity, versus selling political ideology, and that might assist to yield higher viewers outcomes, and engagement, or at least, maintain its key viewers segments from drifting off to different apps.
Actually, this is similar lesson that Twitter discovered with its previous video content material efforts, that it must hone in on what its viewers needs, although even then, it may by no means fairly get the stability proper, and capitalize on its reputation as a second-screen choice for main occasions.
Will X do higher on this entrance? Proper now, it looks like it’s simply working to maintain a maintain on what it has, because the competitors heats up for consumer engagement.
