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How to Develop a Smart TV App? – Cost & Features
Smart TVs have entirely transformed how we enjoy entertainment. It offers access to a world of content right from our living rooms.
Now, it’s become an integral part of any household to provide content on bigger screens, a better sound experience, and the latest features compared to smartphones or laptops.
According to recent stats, the global smart TV market size is expected to reach $495.06 billion by 2032. As viewers increasingly prefer watching content on their Smart TVs, the demand is growing, and it shows big opportunities for businesses to focus on building smart TV apps to tap into this rapidly growing market.
However, building a Smart TV app is a challenging task because of several steps involved.
In this blog, we’ll understand everything about Smart TV apps, their benefits, the step-by-step process to develop a smart TV app, essential features, and the estimated cost of building a Smart TV app.
What is a Smart TV app?
Smart TV apps are special programs that are designed to run only on Smart TVs (or internet-based televisions). These apps can be used for watching movies, streaming shows, listening to music, playing games, and more, all directly on your TV screen through the internet.
The Smart TV apps are similar to mobile apps, but they can be accessed on smart televisions rather than smartphones. It’s not like a regular TV; smart TV apps give you the freedom to choose any content and interactive functionalities like voice control or personalized content recommendations.
Many smart TVs come with built-in app stores that allow users to download and install various apps directly through smart TVs.
Some of the most popular smart TV apps are Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+ and YouTube.
How to Develop a Smart TV App in 6 Steps?
Here are step-by-step processes to build a smart TV application:
Step 1. Market Research and Ideation
The very first step you need to take is to start doing market research and brainstorming ideas. You need to figure out what your app is going to do, whether it’s streaming movies, gaming, or something else. Plus, you need to find out what platforms your target audience is using to watch content like Roku, Android TV, Apple TV, etc. It’s an ideation phase where you brainstorm and do in-depth market research to get answers to all necessary questions about your app, its purpose, end goal, target audience, and USP to stand out from the competitors. Once you have a clear idea about your app, its purpose, its performance, target audience, and USP, then you can jump to the next step.
Step 2. Hire an Experienced Smart TV App Development Company
Hiring an experienced smart TV app development company is one of the crucial steps. Because not every business has the technical expertise to build a smart TV application on its own, it’s better to let experienced professionals develop your app as per your preferences and budget. You should always consider hiring an app development company that has already experienced building smart TV apps earlier to get better results. So you can check their portfolio for better understanding and ensure it aligns with the vision, budget, and timeline.
Step 3. Designing User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX)
Once you’ve hired an experienced custom app development company, then, they start with designing the UI/UX of your app interface. Unlike mobile apps, smart TV apps require more focus on Design because your app interface must be optimized for large screens, more comfortable viewing, large buttons, the easiest vegetation possible, and give a very smooth experience to viewers. So that while using smart TV, users can easily find the content on your app and interact without any confusion.
Step 4. Development and Testing Phases
After the UI/UX design, the development team will start working on back-end development and add on all the functionalities that are required to turn the vision into reality. The team will ensure that all the operations are working smoothly, have responsive controls, and are compatible with different smart TV models and platforms. Once the development is done and your smart TV app is ready, then it goes through a rigorous testing phase, where all its functionalities and performance are tested to find bugs and resolve them immediately. Sometimes, the development team shares the app with a small group of people to test the app in the real world and get honest feedback for improvement. So that your app must be prepared to work as expected in the real world.
Step 5. Submission and Approval Process for Smart TV App Stores
Finally, your app is ready to launch in the market. So, submit your smart TV app to the relevant smart TV app store, such as Roku, Android TV, or Apple TV. Make sure your app meets their approval guidelines. Some guidelines are providing detailed documentation, demonstrating the app’s features, and ensuring that it complies with the platform’s technical requirements. After submission, the approval process may take several weeks, and once you get approval, users can easily download and install your app from their smart TV and access it.
Step 6. Post-launch Maintenance and Updates
Even if your app is successfully launched in the market and users start accessing it, your work doesn’t end here. Your smart TV app requires consistent updates and maintenance to keep running smoothly without any bugs. Post-maintenance is a crucial task, and if you’ve found a reliable app development company that offers post-development maintenance services to ensure the app works smoothly without any issues. So, make sure to look for a development firm that provides post-launch support for your app.
Smart TV App Development for Different Platforms
Smart TV apps have completely changed the way people consume content, and now they have a variety of choices across different platforms to watch and explore content through their smart TVs. Here are some popular platforms for which you can develop Smart TV apps:
1. Roku TV App Development
Roku TV is one of the fastest-growing platforms, where 85.5 million active users prefer to watch content on their smart TVs. This platform allows users to create a smart TV app, individual streaming channels and distribute them through the Roku channel store. It uses BrightScript and SceneGraph to build fast and functional apps, as well as the monetization option they’ve through ads or subscriptions. For creators, Roku TV offers excellent revenue potential. If you want to launch an app for Roku platform, The NineHertz is the leading Roku TV app development company.
Read Also: How to build a Roku App?
2. Samsung Smart TV App Development
Samsung’s Tizen TV OS has been another big platform for TV streaming apps since 2005. This platform allows developers to create a smart TV app and run Samsung Tizen TV apps on Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu to reach broad audiences. Samsung TV app development requires HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS web technologies for building cross-platform apps. The Tizen studio provides all the necessary resources and tools for efficient smart TV app development.
3. Android TV App Development
Android TV apps are the most widely used apps, and they offer excellent opportunities to make money by providing OTT content. It’s a must-have app development option for creators to tap into this market. It uses the Google Play Store for app distribution and builds Android TV apps with Java, Kotlin, or C++ with the help of Android Studio. It also supports 4K, HDR, and a wide variety of devices such as TVs, set-top boxes, and streaming sticks. Android TV is the most powerful platform for streaming content and must be utilized. Here you can explore top android app development services.
4. Apple TV App Development
Apple TV is a premium platform that can seamlessly integrate with the Apple ecosystem, including iTunes and Apple Music. Apple TV runs on tvOS, a version of iOS optimized for televisions. Developers used Xcode and Swift (or Objective-C) to build apps for Apple TV. Developers can build the Apple TV app and distribute it through the app store and monetize through in-app purchases, subscriptions, or ads. Plus, this platform supports 4K video streaming, HDR10, and Dolby Vision, offering a high-quality viewing experience. If you want to build an app on iOS platform, we are the top notch iOS app development services.
Top Features to Create a Smart TV App
In order to build a smart TV application, some features are must-haves in every smart TV app. Let’s explore some top features that your smart TV app needs:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| User-Centric Design | A clean, user-centric interface ensures that users can quickly find and use the app on their smart TVs without any confusion. |
| Personalized Recommendations | The app suggests content based on the user’s watching habits, interests, and history to make users feel like the app knows them and encourage continued usage. |
| Remote Control Compatibility | The app must work smoothly with the TV remote so that users can easily use it to control the app. |
| Integrated Media Player | Built-in media player plays videos and audio directly within the smart TV app, ensuring a hassle-free experience for users. |
| Organized Content Segmentation | It helps content be organized in a well-structured manner for easy accessibility and to find what users are looking for. |
| High-End Security | Strong security ensures user data is protected and builds trust. |
| Multi-Device and Multi-Lingual Support | The app can now work on different devices and offers content in multiple languages to make it convenient for a global audience. |
| Voice and Gesture Controls | It allows users to command the app through voice and gesture control to ensure a convenient and modern experience. |
| Procure Reviews and Ratings | Display reviews and ratings help users make a choice and improve the app’s credibility. |
| Seamless Content Streaming | It ensures smooth and high-quality video streaming without any buffering. So that users can enjoy the show and keep engaged. |
| Friendly and Fast Navigation | Minimal options keep the navigation faster and allow users to quickly improve and enjoy content without getting confused. |
Smart TV App Development Cost
The average cost of building a smart TV app can range between $15,000 to $150,000 or more. However, its costs can vary depending on the complexity of features, target platforms, UI/UX design, and desired functionalities. Here’s the estimated cost breakdown for different types of smart TV apps:
| Types of Smart TV Apps | Estimated Development Costs (USD) |
|---|---|
| On-demand Streaming Apps (Live streaming, video-on-demand, music streaming) | $25,000 to $1,40,000 |
| Utility Apps (News, calendar, weather) | $15,000 to $75,000 |
| E-learning Apps (Language learning, kids apps) | $20,000 to $1,30,000 |
| Shopping Apps | $40,000 to $1,45,000 |
| Fitness Apps | $25,000 to $1,50,000 |
| Gaming Apps | $40,000 to $1,80,000 |
| Smart Home Automation Apps | $30,000 to $1,00,000 |
Benefits of Launching Smart TV Application
Building a smart TV app has several benefits for businesses. Let’s explore some of the top benefits:
1. Expanded Reach to a Vast Audience
By launching a smart TV app, your content can reach millions of users globally who own smart TVs. With the increasing popularity of smart TVs, there are high chances of increasing brand visibility and attracting new users.
2. Enhanced User Engagement
Smart TV apps provide very interactive and immersive experiences to users. Advanced features like personalized recommendations, seamless interface, or live streaming help keep users interested and improve engagement with your app.
3. Seamless Cross-Platform Integration
Smart TV apps can work smoothly with different devices like smartphones or tablets. This means users can switch between devices without losing track of their content, which enhances their experience. This seamless integration allows users to access your app anytime, anywhere, improving their overall experience.
4. Diversified Monetization Options
A smart TV app allows businesses to make money with different monetization options, including subscription plans, display ads, in-app purchases, or partnering with other content providers. These options give you flexibility in choosing the best revenue model for your business.
5. Versatility for Different Content Types
Smart TV apps are versatile and offer different types of content like movies, TV shows, games, educational materials, or interactive content. It allows us to showcase various types of content in one place to cater to diverse audience preferences.
6. Building a Loyal User Base
Millions of users are actively using smart TV apps. There’s a big opportunity for businesses to build a smart TV app and create a loyal user base by offering easy-to-use and enjoyable app experiences.
How can The NineHertz Help You with Smart TV App Development?
NineHertz is a leading Smart TV app development company with over 16 years of experience in the industry. We’ve over 350 experienced developers who deliver tailored smart TV app solutions for their clients. NineHertz has cutting-edge technologies and a dedicated team that follows a client-first approach to understand the client’s needs and ensure that their vision is turned into reality. For end-to-end smart TV app development, we’ve all the required resources and an experienced and dedicated team to ensure ideation to post-launch support. Connect with our experts today to let our professionals help you!
Conclusion
Smart TV demand is growing rapidly, and it’s the right time for businesses to tap into this growing market and unlock different monetization options with smart TV app development. We hope this guide will help you understand everything about smart TV apps, their benefits, the step-by-step process to make a smart TV app, and the estimated cost. Now, it’s your turn to hire an experienced smart TV app development company and let the professionals turn your vision into reality.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Smart TV App?
The average cost of building a smart TV app can range between $20,000 to $150,000. However, its costs can vary depending on factors like complexity, features, and platform.
Q. What Language Is Required for Smart TV App Development?
Smart TV apps are usually developed using languages like Java (for Android TV), Swift (for Apple TV), and Tizen (for Samsung Smart TV), among others, based on the target platform.
Q. How Long Does It Take to Develop a Smart TV App?
The average time required to develop a smart TV app can range from 2-6 months based on app complexity. Here’s the estimated breakdown:
- Basic streaming app: 2-4 months
- Mid-range app with user accounts: 4-6 months
- Highly interactive app with advanced features: 6+ months
Q. Which Is the Best Smart TV App Development Company?
When it comes to building a smart TV app, you must choose an experienced company like NineHertz, with 16+ years of experience and proven expertise in building smart TV apps.
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