This is a wise move - apart from the finances and steady revenue stream, Telegram is well aware that most channel owners already include "paid posts" and sponso

This is a wise move - apart from the finances and steady revenue stream, Telegram is well aware that most channel owners already include "paid posts" and sponsor messages. As a channel owner, the biggest stumbling block is discoverability. Therefore, you contact big channel owners and request them to put up your post (or pay extra to pin it). There's a cost involved - it depends on the number of subscriptions. Though, from my rough estimates, 1 in 5 subscribers end up getting it. There are detailed channel statistics that measure the impact of each post made. I notice the discussion here is being done by most users, who don't have channels or not on Telegram either. There has been a gradual acceptance of Telegram here, which is vying for a serious social media alternative. WhatsApp plans to roll out "Communities" in response to Telegram channels. However, its ownership is nuclear waste. They have several innovative features in pipeline. I use channel to relay video calling (I can record it and host unlimited users). The video calling has improved by leaps and bounds in past several weeks and has become a serious alternative to Facetime.