iWorld
BBC Studios Asia Pacific appoints Cheryl Png, Stanley Fernandes to head South Asia distribution
MUMBAI: There are some top-level changes at BBC Studios' APAC team. Cheryl Png has been promoted to VP, Distribution, South East Asia and Stanley Fernandes has been promoted to VP, Distribution, South Asia.
This will see both Png and Fernandes working across Affiliate Sales, Digital Sales, and Content Sales, in a more integrated and geographically-focused approach to our distribution business in these territories. Previously Png headed up the Affiliate Sales business for the South East Asia region, while her counterpart Fernandes led Content Sales for South and South East Asia. They will also oversee new revenue opportunities for the distribution business, in a more holistic offering to the client.
BBC Studios South & South East Asia SVP & GM Ryan Shiotani said: “I’m delighted to be able to promote Cheryl and Stanley, who are first-class commercial leaders, with a passion and knowledge for BBC Studios content. This new approach also puts the focus on our valued clients, offering them an integrated content distribution service in the hands of their local experts.”
In addition, Sweta Sriram has been promoted to Manager, Content and Brands for the South Asia region, working to Fernandes.
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.
