iWorld
BBC backs down on podcast ads, AudioUK expresses concern
MUMBAI: The BBC has made a U-turn on plans to plaster ads around its licence fee-funded podcasts, after a right old public controversy. The broadcaster’s annual plan for 2025-26 confirmed that it had ruled out the idea, following a barrage of feedback.
“We have listened to feedback and having considered the options carefully, we have decided to rule out placing adverts around BBC licence-fee funded programmes on third party podcast platforms in the UK,” the BBC stated, effectively slamming the door on the ad plans.
AudioUK, the trade body representing independent podcast and audio producers, welcomed the decision, but they’re still keeping a beady eye on BBC Studios’ commercial activities. They’re worried that the BBC’s commercial arm, with its “powerful” presence, could disrupt the fledgling UK podcast market.
“We remain concerned about the BBC’s entry into the UK podcast advertising market through content produced by the BBC Studios,” AudioUK said in a statement. “The potential disruption caused by such a large player entering the space without full consideration of its impact on these businesses is troubling.”
AudioUK CEO Chloe Straw called for “greater engagement” from BBC Studios, urging it to “support, rather than disrupt” the developing podcast ecosystem. She’s keen to see the Beeb join the “vibrant, collaborative space” that independent producers have built.
“Whilst the UK podcasting industry is thriving and growing rapidly, it remains relatively young and has been largely built and driven by the creativity, innovation and investment of over 200 SMEs, many of them regional and diverse,” Straw said.
AudioUK is also keen to see “greater transparency and research” from the BBC on how it intends to grow the market, alongside the many other organisations and businesses already working to attract advertising investment.
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
