iWorld
News9 Plus introduces attractive subscription offers to viewers
Mumbai: News9 Plus, the world’s first news OTT, launched by TV9 Network, has announced a range of subscription plans, designed to provide unparalleled value to subscribers seeking diverse and engaging content. With News9 Plus, subscribers gain access to a wide range of offerings, making the platform an exceptional investment for those eager to stay informed and entertained.
Subscribers can choose from flexible subscription plans tailored to suit their preferences and needs. Options include 30-day, 90-day, and 365-day plans, priced at Rs 99, Rs 289, and Rs 999, respectively. Each plan grants subscribers access to an array of premium content across formats, including short documentaries, lifestyle content and cerebral talk shows.
In addition to exclusive content, subscribers to the annual plan on News9 Plus receive complimentary gifts valued at Rs 3,000 and gain access to 17 exclusive brand benefits. This comprehensive offering ensures that subscribers not only receive exceptional content but also enjoy a range of additional perks and rewards.
“News9 Plus is at the frontier of a much-needed paradigm shift in the news industry. Over-reliance on advertising revenue has brought this industry to a situation where the viability of the business is under pressure. Subscription as an added revenue source is a low-hanging fruit. We need to revive the habit where consumers subscribe for premium content. The news industry will thereby be able to tap into India’s biggest strength, the consuming middle class, through direct commerce”, said TV9 Network MD and CEO Barun Das.
The platform’s commitment to delivering value extends beyond its subscription plans. From an editorial standpoint, News9 Plus has garnered praise for its innovative approach to storytelling and world-class production standards. Always ahead of the curve, the OTT platform goes beyond traditional news headlines, offering in-depth, exclusive stories across various genres, including geopolitics, business, sports, lifestyle, and infotainment.
The platform also offers a user-friendly interface, ensuring seamless navigation and self-curation. Both the News9 Plus app and its website have received accolades for their intuitive layout and engaging features.
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.
