Top 6 Streaming Devices to Launch Your OTT App On

OTT Streaming services have generated new opportunities for content publishers and distributors as they are providing more control, more convenience, and more variety of streaming. That is why people are shifting from traditional TV to OTT streaming.

OTT or Over the Top uses technology to deliver the highest quality video and audio content from a single central managing dashboard to multiple streaming devices via the Internet. They offer multiple services that include:

– Video hosting

– Live streaming

– Monetization features

– Website development

– App development

Entertainment and media companies are launching OTT apps on the best streaming devices. It is categorically important to decide on the right streaming device that can open the door to the immense potential of an untapped and highly relevant audience. It is a strategic move to launch an app on multiple devices that can maximize revenue and chances of success without investing time and money in building, testing, and launching an app that can deliver no dividend. You can analyze the market and make an informed decision regarding the rolling out of your platform.  So, without further ado, let us begin with the main apps to choose to launch.

• Roku

• Amazon Fire TV

• Apple TV

• Android TV

• Chromecast

• Xbox One

Roku is the top licensed pioneer of TV streaming.

Active Users: 36.9 million

Devices Sold: 41 million

Existing Apps/Channels: over 5,000 channels.

Streaming hours: 40.3 billion hours of content

Product range: Roku Players, Roku Streaming Sticks, and Roku TVs.

Supported Countries: 20 countries, with the vast majority of devices sold in the United States/Canada, and a smaller presence in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Mexico, Brazil, and other Latin American countries.

Price/affordability: range from $29.99 to $139.99

Best for: If you launch your app on Roku, it provides immediate access to the platform has 36 million monthly users. Roku is the world’s most engaged OTT audience as per average hours streamed. It is a smart option for the content provider who wants to generate revenue through advertising. It delivers highly relevant ads with proprietary targeting technology and first-party data.

Active users: 40 million active monthly users 

Supported Countries: Amazon Fire TV has already tapped into over 100.

Devices sold: 30 million streaming devices

Existing apps/channels: over 7,000 apps

Product range: Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube, Fire TV, and Fire TV Gaming Edition.

Price/affordability: Starting at $39.99 for the Fire Stick and $149.99 for Fire TVs.

Supported countries: Amazon’s Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition) is available in more than 100 countries and seven default languages including English, Spanish, Brazilian, Portuguese, French, Italian, and German.

Best for Amazon Fire TV is an optimum choice for content publishers who want to tap into the household entertainment category with a globally engaged audience. Though, Amazon Fire TV is a considerably better option for content providers looking to expand globally, or those with a niche market across multiple countries.

You need to make minor adjustments for compatibility with Amazon Fire TV if you already have an existing Android app and you are good to go.

Active users: 21 million active monthly users.

Devices sold: 26 million media players and TVs in the U.S. and 53 million worldwide.

Existing apps/channels: 1,600+ apps and games, in addition to its own channel Apple TV+.

Streaming hours: 21% of American households regularly stream via an Apple streaming device.

Countries supported: Available in over 100 countries.

Product range: Apple TVs (featuring a built-in App Store) and Apple TV media players and remotes.

Price/affordability: Apple TV devices have a significantly higher price tag, starting at $179.99.

Best for: Apple TV is best for premium content publishers who want to tap the luxury market as it is a high-end brand with a loyal customer base. The consumers of an Apple TV app are more willing to pay good money for your content as it can handle all 4k resolution content with HDR10, and Dolby Vision supported.

Active users: Android TV claims that “tens of millions” of consumers worldwide currently use their operating system.

Devices sold: Google first introduced Android TV in 2014 and has since partnered with over 140 tech companies, including Sony and Hisense. Therefore, it is not easy to determine the absolute and exact sales numbers for set-top-boxes and smart TVs running Android TV.

Existing apps/channels: over 5,000 apps.

Supported countries: Android TV is available worldwide though it is most popular within Asian and African regions.

Product range: Android TV is in-house developed by Google.  It is an Android operating system that comes built into several smart TVs, including Sony, Sharp, Soniq, TCL, Toshiba, and LeEco, and streaming devices like Nvidia Shield, Nexus Player, and Xiaomi MI Box.

Affordability: Android TV’s product range and pricing are diverse. The Xiaomi Mi Box is moderately priced at $59.99 whereas $899 the Sony X900F Series TV is.

Best for: For targeting the high-resolution TV market, Android TV is a smart option for content publishers. It is a profitable option as it is a main driver in developing countries and the game streaming market.

Active users: 24 million people

Devices sold: Globally, however, Google has sold over 55 million Chromecasts.

Existing apps/channels: Chromecast comes with hundreds of built-in apps. Users can also download device-enabled apps from the Google Play Store.

Support countries: A Chromecast-enabled app will expose your content to audiences across 11 countries.

Affordability: Chromecasts are very affordable. Ranges from $35 for the basic edition to $70 for Chromecast Ultra.

Best for Chromecast is a great way to reach Connected TV devices without needing to build a new CTV app. All you have to do is make your existing app Chromecast enabled.

Microsoft’s Xbox One is marketed as an all-in-one entertainment system with thousands of built-in apps as well as movies, music, and games for purchase through the Microsoft Store.

Active users: 65 million monthly active users

Devices sold: over 46 million Xbox One devices worldwide.

Existing apps/channels: Xbox One comes with hundreds of built-in apps and thousands of downloadable apps delivered through the Universal Windows Platform (UWP).

Supported countries: Xbox One is currently supported in 21 countries.

Price/Affordability: Xbox One is among the most expensive streaming devices on the market, retailing at $499. It is facing tough competition from Sony’s PlayStation 4, which retails for $399 and is available in more than 48 countries.

Best for Xbox One is an excellent option for app developers looking to capitalize on the growing trend towards game streaming. It also presents a profitable opportunity for media and entertainment brands in the family-friendly market.

Every content distributor wants to grow their viewership and maximize revenue opportunities. It is a challenging step to choose which streaming device to launch your OTT app. However, you can take into account the platform’s audience size and supported countries.

Consider a Framework Accelerator for Multi-Platform Deployment

We’d recommend you start with Roku or Amazon Fire TV initially because of the largest market share. Also, these platforms have the ability to reach a global audience. you can diversify your channel across multiple platforms as you grow and expand your reach.