Just like a smartphone, it is now possible to also download applications and use them, right out of your smart TV. They have truly redefined the entire home entertainment space and also opened a new channel of business for enterprises.

Why smart TVs can help boost your business?

In 2018, 70% of television units sold around the world were smart TVs. This presents itself as an interesting business opportunity for organizations. From shopping to staying connected with users, smart TV apps can help companies engage with customers in unconventional ways.

As a result, companies across the world are investing in TV app development. Many platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Roku TV have emerged recently in the last decade, and almost all of these platforms are growing exponentially. This trend shows that there is no reason why you should not explore creating an app yourself.

With the right planning and execution, you may succeed in driving business for your company.

Things to look for while creating a successful smart TV app

To make your smart TV app successful, you should carefully evaluate the following factors.

Select a Platform

The first step is to decide the platform that your smart TV app should run on. This can vary depending upon the objectives of your business or the geographical location. Popular smart TV platforms are Android TV, Fire TV, Roku TV, and tvOS.

Each of these has a different interface and guidelines for developing apps. You can develop your smart TV app for one or multiple smart TV platforms. The more platforms you want, the more difficult it will take to develop the app. Ideally, you should select one and then release the app on the platform before moving on to other platforms.

Hire Smart TV Developers

You should have a dedicated team working on the smart TV app development project. This way they can devote all their time to creating the app. It will help to make the app development process faster and robust. You can hire agencies or independent developers to accomplish the task.

To select the right one, look into their portfolio, experience, and skills to understand their work. The pricing and project deadline should also be considered before hiring an agency/independent developer.

Design Interface and Size

Smart TVs have wider screen size and picture resolution than mobile phones and computers. Your smart TV app development team should factor in this while creating the app. Unlike mobile phones and computers, TVs are also viewed from longer distances and from varied angles.

Navigation panels that are pixelated or too sharp can result in a bad viewing experience. To provide the best viewing experience, the font size and image coloring should be clear even when viewed from long distances or from different angles.

Intuitive Navigation Panel

Smart TVs come with a large screen that can be used to display multiple elements. Overcrowding and poorly done navigation panel can result in a failure. Most smart TV apps have an intuitive and organized navigation panel that makes it easy for users to browse content.

Your app should also offer an uncomplicated interface to the users, allowing them to smoothly navigate through the app. Displaying navigation screen names on the top, using different color bars, and quick select and exit options can make this possible.

Remote Control

Smart TV apps are limited by remote and voice control as there are no keyboards, mouse, or touchscreen to navigate. Your smart TV app should be developed keeping this in mind. Many smart TVs also offer voice control and gesture features.

The app you develop should have the capability to use these features to provide the best user experience. You can have a look at the platform-specific SDKs and architecture to get a better understanding.

Test and Release

Carry out tests on real devices to find out how the app is performing. The app must work smoothly and there should not be any bugs. If you are creating the app for multiple platforms, it is essential to independently test them on those platforms.

You should also evaluate the low- bandwidth response, navigation behavior, and audio/video capabilities of the app. If there are any issues, fix them and test again. Once everything is working smoothly you can officially release the app on the platform.

Conclusion

The number of smart TV shipments is projected to increase to 260 million in 2025. Creating an app that adds value and delivers content can help you jump on this Smart TV app bandwagon and successfully grow your business.

Investing in the right team and the right resources are essentially what you need to do to make yourself stand ahead of the competition. When done correctly, your smart TV app could become the next big thing in the industry.