X has introduced its 18th X Originals video sequence, 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 operating by way of Friday, August 29.”
So, it’ll additionally air on NFL+, which makes it a semi-exclusive, I suppose. However both approach, it’ll give X one other large sports activities present so as to add to its slate of video programming, because it seems to spice up video engagement, in keeping with its publicly acknowledged “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 most well-liked matter of debate within the app, and the NFL is essentially the most mentioned sport, it is sensible for X to make this a spotlight, particularly as Meta seems to include its personal sports activities engagement choices on Threads.
It additionally is sensible for the NFL, with tens of millions of followers partaking within the app.
The sequence 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 can be X’s 18th “X Originals” program, although a lot 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 undertaking (which now appears to have been dumped)
Tucker Carlson, whose interviews had been producing tens of millions 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 growing a sequence of documentary-style packages 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 Large 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 trying to make a comeback on X
Funding-based present “Going Public”
Soccer docu-series “The Offseason”
NHL’s “4 Nations” event
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 brand 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’ll be able to see, X hasn’t actually attracted, or held onto any main title content material, and it’s onerous 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 reveals, 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 consequently. 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 cope with 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 important, and X says that it’s hosted over 300 episodes of its Originals packages over the previous two years.
It doesn’t really feel like X’s video push is absolutely gaining traction, and its removed from what most would think about 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 progress outcomes for the app.
Which, after all, 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 no less than, and it’s regularly shedding customers over time, whereas Threads continues to realize.
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 identical lesson that Twitter discovered with its previous video content material efforts, that it must hone in on what its viewers desires, although even then, it might by no means fairly get the steadiness 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 as if it’s simply working to maintain a maintain on what it has, because the competitors heats up for consumer engagement.
