6 Things to Consider When Building OTT Apps for Apple TV
Are you a diehard Apple fan but have never heard of Apple TV? If so, this device could be next on your list. Despite its name, Apple TV is not a Tv set. Instead, it is a streaming device that you connect to your television. It seems to be a little black box that runs the Apple operating system, implying that it can do much more than just stream movies and TV shows.
As we all know, Apple TV is one of the market’s most popular OTT platforms. So it’s no surprise that Apple TV app development is becoming increasingly popular. Apple’s streaming service is not just easy to use, but TVOS also integrates with other Apple devices. So, if you’re a video publisher or channel, Apple TV App Development for TVOS is a wise investment.
- According to Statista, Apple users are more inclined to spend money on in-app purchases and services than users of other operating systems.
- Apple TV is the ideal platform for reaching out to a youthful, tech-savvy audience. According to studies, up to 11% of American Gen Z and Millennials use Apple TVs to stream content.
- With 19,469 applications, the tvOS App Store is one of the most popular mobile app vendors worldwide.
There are so many ways to create tvOS apps. But getting started isn’t as difficult as it seems. In this post, we’ll walk you through a few easy ways to build tvOS apps for smart tv, including a few considerations. So before we get into the considerations to create your own apple tv app, let’s start with some background information: What Is Apple TV, How to Create TVOS Apps/Develop Apple TV App, Considerations While Developing TVos Apps for Apple TV, etc.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
What is Apple TV?
Apple TV is a set-top box that converts a television into a screen for viewing Internet content. Once connected, Apple TV allows users to see digital data from their own iOS devices and a range of partner sources. Some partner sources are free, while others, such as Netflix and Hulu, charge a monthly membership price.
Apple TV is sometimes referred to as a cord-cutting device because it offers many of the same viewing options as cable TV providers. Users of the Apple TV software can enjoy native Apple TV apps from their favorite video publishers, such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO, and others.
Creating OTT Apps for Apple TV: 6 Things to Consider
When you are planning to build an apple tv app there are a few things to keep in mind. They are as follows:
# Current Apps’ Extensions
Considering the similarities between iOS and tvOS, developing an apple tv app does not always necessitate starting from scratch. Companies can gain quick results by getting on the platform early with extensions of current apps. However, most of the early tvOS apps will be of this type. Therefore building an extension of your iOS app to function on the Apple TV will allow you to leverage your existing user base and ease the transition to the platform. Because the App Store has opened the floodgates for more content, it will be easy to get your content submitted, approved, and launched.
# User Expectations
We’re no longer only dealing with smartphones and tablets, but we have also dealt with big-screen TVs on the list. As the platform evolves, apps will get displayed on very big displays, and users will want even more. Because the big screen removes many inherent restrictions of other devices, the user experience will have to go well beyond what people can now achieve on their mobile devices.
# User Experience
The size and design of the tv not just impact user expectations, but also how users engage with the apps. When using phones and tablets, users view and touch the same device. They will interact with the bigger screen via phones, tablets, or the Apple TV’s Siri-enabled remote. As a result, interactions will be completely different, and developers must account for this. Furthermore, to enhance the user experience, Apple TV uses focus navigation, which indicates to viewers where they are within the app.
# Individual Vs. Shared Experiences
One of the key differences between tvOS apps and other platforms is that they encourage shared experiences. Unlike applications on smartphones and tablets, which are individual experiences apart from social sharing functions, Apple TV allows more viewers/users to connect multiple remotes and devices at once.
Integrating the multi-user component to your tvOS app is critical to its success on the OTT platform, and developers will need to think of unique ways to harness this power to create easy and exciting shared experiences.
# Storage
Developers will have to account for the fact that Apple TV lacks persistent local storage. The maximum size of an app is 200MB; anything greater than that must be packed and loaded using On-Demand Resources.
# The Long-Term Strategy
While there are numerous app extensions in the early stages, as tvOS grows, we should expect to see more native and increasingly complicated solutions offered to the Apple TV platform. We believe that the primary purpose of the Apple TV is to provide more utility in areas that Apple is interested in.
Summing Up
To sum it up, Apple TV apps are an excellent way to bring your existing video-on-demand content to a TV-focused audience. You can, however, make apple tv apps in several ways: You can either build Apple TV App with an apple tv app builder or lease a white-labeled app from an Apple TV App Development Company.
With millions of Apple users yearning for streaming content now is the time to get started. There is no doubt that developing your own Apple TV app is a lucrative option to reach Apple TV viewers and iOS users. And before you pick any strategy, consider the pros and cons, budget, time period, and potential competitive advantages. All you have to do for Apple TV App Development is to find the right tvOS or OTT app provider.
