Android TV has pretty much taken the world by storm. In March 2020, Google announced that over 160 TV providers use Android TV. What’s more, by May 2020, the Youtube app for Android TV had passed 50 million installs! Android TV’s popularity has been steadily soaring and if you are in the business of content creation, it is the right time to make use of its popularity.
If you have been considering building android TV apps for your business but are unsure of the next steps, we have you covered. In this article, we will cover why exactly you need to build an Android TV app, what features make a good Android TV app, and the different ways to make one.
Android TV App: The what and the why!
An Android TV app is just what it says: an app that can be downloaded on Android TV devices that will allow users to access content from various OTT platforms directly on their televisions. With the pandemic changing how people seek entertainment, OTT content was a solution to the problem. With OTT tv providers seeing a 30 to 40% spike in subscribers, it is not surprising that businesses are grabbing the opportunity to make Android TV apps.
The writing on the wall is clear. If you want to increase your viewership, if you want to grab a bigger share of the customer pool that is currently more than 131 million strong, then Android TV app development is the way to go about it!
Must-Have Features in Android TV App
There are a host of features that can be played around with in OTT app development; however, some features are absolutely essential. The best OTT tv apps have these features in common.
1) Simple to Access:
If you notice the difference between different OTT Tv app providers, the ones you use more often are the ones where the content is easy to access in addition to the quality of content. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are very good examples of providing an easy-to-access experience that keeps viewers coming back simply because it is so easy to get to their favorite videos. They have easy to view thumbnails, throw up recommendations based on previous views as well as allow users to skip to previous or next episodes easily without having to move off the screen.
All these features make for great accessibility and therefore good apps.
2) Promotes Positive User Experience:
Since the quality of television screens are not as great as mobile phone screens, Google recommends that you keep some things in mind when designing the UI for an Android TV app. These features help maintain a better user experience and ensure viewers come back time and again to your app.
Some details to look into are:
a) Layout of the screen for easy visualization of titles
b) Automatically adjusting the size of the views to the TV’s capabilities
c) Optimising the screen space to show different sections clearly
A few thoughtful steps such as these will prompt users to keep returning to your Android TV app.
3) Intuitive to Navigate:
One of the best ways to ensure that viewers prefer your Android TV app to others is by ensuring that navigation is smooth and hassle-free. Unlike mobile phones where users can use their fingers, TVs use remotes for the operation which are quite basic whereas apps provide a host of functionalities. Making sure that apps can be navigated easily using the remote’s limited functions can make or break an OTT tv app.
You will find the popular OTT platform providers are relatively easy to use with a tv remote which keeps users coming back for more.
Building an Android TV App – Different Ways
It is time to now look at how you can go about building your own Android TV App. There are essentially three ways to go about doing it.
1) Hire a developer who can be your Android TV app builder
One of the seemingly easiest solutions is to hire a developer who can build the app for you from the ground up. There are multiple sites that have freelancers up for hire and you can use them to hire one who fits your requirements.
Be aware though that there are multiple facets that go into developing an app from scratch and therefore costs could go up way higher than just the developer’s costs!
2) Use an Android TV App template from the market
Another option is to use a ready-made Android TV app available in the market. While these templatized apps cannot be customized much, they make a wonderful option for small businesses that have budget constraints and are not too particular about branding and customization.
You do need to be slightly tech-savvy to be able to integrate it seamlessly into your back end as well.
3) Buy a Branded OTT app maker and customize it
The third option is to go with an OTT solution provider who specializes in creating Android TV apps and have their entire setup focusing on customized app solutions from creation to troubleshooting.
From understanding your needs to creating the app and providing support after launch, the provider will do all that and more.
In Closing:
There are multiple ways to go about creating and launching your own Android TV app. Each method has its own pros and cons. Assessing the method best suited for your budget and needs will help you make the best call.
While assessing methods, it is important to look at what exactly you are paying for, whether there are hidden costs, and how much the total cost will eventually work out to.
Budget allowing, using a third-party OTT solution provider is the best option. The biggest advantage of this approach is that you do not need to do anything extra. Not only will the provider take care of everything and customize it for your brand, in terms of pricing, but it is also cheaper in the long run since you pay the fee for an all-inclusive service instead of having unexpected expenses popping up from time to time.
Armed with these tips, go ahead and start your OTT app journey today!
