TV app development for Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Samsung and LG
We design and build smart TV apps that are easy to use with a remote, start playing quickly and pass each store’s review. One team covers every TV platform and the backend, accounts and payments that tie them together.
Smart TV platforms we build for.
Each TV platform has its own tools, store and rules. We build natively for each one and share code where the platforms allow it.
Android TV and Google TV
Apps for Android TV and Google TV devices, with content rows, home screen recommendations and Google Play billing.
Tech used: Kotlin, Compose for TV, Media3 ExoPlayer, Google Play Billing
Amazon Fire TV
Fire TV apps that share most of their code with the Android TV build, published on the Amazon Appstore with Amazon in-app purchasing.
Tech used: Kotlin, Compose for TV, Media3 ExoPlayer, Amazon IAP
Apple TV
tvOS apps that use the Apple TV focus engine, Top Shelf and Siri Remote gestures, with subscriptions through the App Store.
Tech used: Swift, SwiftUI, AVKit, StoreKit
Roku
Roku channels built with SceneGraph, with fast video start, deep linking and subscriptions through Roku Pay.
Tech used: BrightScript, SceneGraph, Roku Pay
Samsung Tizen
Web-based apps for Samsung Smart TVs, tuned for older and newer models and published on the Samsung TV app store.
Tech used: TypeScript, React, Tizen Web API, AVPlay
LG webOS
Web-based apps for LG Smart TVs, sharing much of their code with the Samsung build and published on the LG Content Store.
Tech used: TypeScript, React, webOS TV SDK
What a good TV app needs.
A TV app is not a phone app on a bigger screen. These are the things we plan for from the first design.
Remote D-pad focus
Every screen works with up, down, left, right and OK. Focus is always visible and never gets lost.
A 10-foot UI
Large type, clear contrast and simple layouts that read well from the sofa, on any screen size.
Fast playback
Video starts quickly, adapts to the connection and keeps going on modest TV hardware.
Store approval
Each store has its own checklist. We build to it from the start, so review is a formality.
Payments per platform
Each TV store has its own billing rules. One backend keeps a user’s subscription in step everywhere.
Built by the team behind Ohm.
Ohm is our own video player for TV, phone, tablet and computer. We designed it for the remote first, built it for each TV platform, and run its accounts, payments and support ourselves. Your TV app gets the same care and the same lessons.
A premium IPTV player for the playlists you already have. Ohm plays your own sources; it never supplies channels.
Visit the Ohm website (opens in a new tab)How a TV app project runs.
- 01
Discover
Platforms, features, content rights and budget agreed in a fixed-price proposal. - 02
Design
A clickable TV prototype, tested with a real remote before any code. - 03
Build
The first platform and backend, then the others, with test builds on real TVs. - 04
Store submission
Listings, review answers and fixes until each store approves the app. - 05
Look after
Updates for new TV models and OS versions, fixes and new features.
How much does a TV app cost?
It depends on how many platforms you need, how the app plays video, whether users sign in and pay, and how much design work is involved. After a short discovery call we send a fixed-price proposal with the scope written out, so you know the cost before work starts.
Can one app run on all smart TVs?
No single app runs on every TV, because each platform has its own tools and store. We share code where we can: Android TV and Fire TV share one codebase, Samsung and LG share a web-based codebase, and Apple TV and Roku are built on their own. All of them use the same backend and accounts.
Do you handle store submission?
Yes. We prepare listings, screenshots and review notes, submit to Google Play, the Amazon Appstore, the App Store, the Roku Channel Store, Samsung and LG, and fix anything a reviewer raises. Apps are published under your own developer accounts.
Can you add subscriptions to a TV app?
Yes. We set up each store’s billing, such as Google Play Billing, Amazon in-app purchasing, StoreKit on Apple TV and Roku Pay, and connect them to one backend so a subscription bought on one device works on the others where the store rules allow.
Can you build for Roku?
Yes. We build Roku channels in BrightScript and SceneGraph, with deep linking, Roku Pay subscriptions and Roku Channel Store certification.
Do you build IPTV and video player apps?
Yes. We build player apps that play streams and playlists our clients or their users provide. We build players only: we do not supply channels or content.
Do I own the code and designs?
Yes. Once the project is paid in full, you own the code, designs and everything we built for you. We hand over the repositories, store accounts and documentation.
Planning a TV app?
Tell us which platforms you need and what the app should do. We will reply with questions and a fixed-price proposal.