iWorld
Scripps Network not to renew deal with Netflix
MUMBAI: Two popular channels are leaving the house of Netflix. Scripps Network Interactive has announced that it will not renew its deal with the streaming service which will expire by the end of this year.
With this, HGTV and Food Network’s content shows like Fixer Upper, Chopped, House Hunters, Food Network Star, Worst Cooks in America, Flip or Flop, and Property Brothers will no longer be available on the streaming service.
Additionally, shows from the Travel Channel, the DIY channel, and the Cooking Channel will also be removed from Netflix at the end of 2016. The two companies struck a licensing deal in October 2014 that allowed the streaming service to offer some of its shows such as Man Versus Food and Chopped.
All these programs have been available on Netflix since October 2014, however, there will be no new episodes added to the streaming service and all the previous ones will be removed.
According to reports, Scripps Network chief operating officer Buton Jablin, recently announced that the company would part ways with Netflix at the end of this year. After assessing and analyzing the SVOD space they have come to this decision of not expanding their agreement with Netflix past the end of this year. He opined that it is not the kind of dual revenue model that best monetizes their content over the long term.
The company’s other COO executive Ken Lowe has also expressed her opinions on the same and has stated that Scripps Network Interactive is big enough, and does not want to shackle itself with the obligation of a streaming partnership with Netflix. She believes that Scripps has a lot of opportunities and with such a compelling content for advertisers; it certainly does not want to cut them off.
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.
