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Key takeaways
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- The main benefits of the Roku TV app include access to a large loyal audience and a promising revenue stream.
- Some key features of Roku TV apps include voice control, offline viewing, and customization.
- The cost of Roku TV development is based on different factors, such as the number of features and complexity. A middle-of-the-road app with standard functionality could rack up to $60,000.
Introduction to Roku TV app development
Think of Roku as a mix between Netflix and cable TV. It combines the best of both worlds, and it lets you reach the widest possible audience in the TV app market.
If you want to create an app and have freedom over product and design choices, Roku TV app development is a good option. In this case, you have options: from an over-the-top app spanning a large audience to a niche app that targets a specific demographic, e.g., children or sports fans.
Roku app development process: 7 steps
Overall, Roku app development can seem daunting. To make it less intimidating, we divided this process into seven actionable steps. They can accommodate the majority of apps, including Roku TV platforms. However, their number is subject to change depending on the feature set of your project.
1. Discovery phase
During the discovery phase, it’s important to research the target audience and the market. By understanding preferences, trends, and user needs beforehand, you’ll have the groundwork necessary to develop a functional app and choose appropriate content for your Roku TV platform.
One of the main benefits of a discovery phase is saving money. We had a client with a vision for the AI dating app. Instead of rushing to develop it straight away, we took a step back and analyzed the market. It turns out that it didn’t have user interest.
Instead of spending $40,000 and 3–4 months on the project, they spent $3,000 to see if there was any demand for it
2. Key feature & monetization model selection
After outlining your user needs and market demands, it’s time to pick features. Aside from the aforementioned list we provided in this article, think about your users and their expectations of your app.
At this stage, we suggest also choosing a monetization type for your app. Here are three common models:
| Monetization type | Description |
| SVOD (Subscription video on demand) | Users pay monthly or yearly for a subscription. In return, they get unlimited access to content libraries |
| AVOD (Advertising video on demand) | This model is seemingly free for users. Instead of paying before getting access to content, they watch commercials and generate ad revenue for the Roku TV app this way |
| TVOD (Transactional video on demand) | Users buy particular pieces of content directly, typically in the form of a one-time purchase. They can also rent it out for a fixed period of time |
| ⭐Purrweb’s case
Voxtox is an audio streaming platform with music, podcasts, news, and voice messages. The founders were looking to redesign the app, and so we came to the rescue. The owner decided on ad revenue as a way to monetize the app and used several unusual features to set it apart from other audio streaming services. These include custom-built AI content and location-based AI ads. Our designers removed needless features and mapped out a simple design with a minimalist flair. The ease of navigation allows users to solve their problems faster, which ultimately boosts conversions.    Although this app has various unique features, like creating an AI podcast with a single tap, it doesn’t hinder the streaming quality. In fact, it remains consistently high through and through. |
3. Team selection
Once you select features, look for a Roku app development team that’s going to turn your vision into reality. There are two ways you can go about it:
- Building a team from scratch: hiring staff, paying salaries, bonuses, taxes, etc.
- Outsourcing development to a Roku TV development company.
The second option offers more flexibility and costs less in the short run, seeing as you don’t need to waste time on hiring the team and paying for their benefits.
4. UX design
Finally, design begins. Before creating a fleshed-out design concept, we usually start with wireframes. These are bare-bones versions of app screens, which allow us to figure out how to place interface elements on the screen in a harmonious way.
Once these wireframes are accepted by the client, it’s time to “beautify” the interface and add details that make it a joy to use
We also take each repeating interface element and turn it into a kit of UI components that speed up app development.
| ⭐Purrweb’s case
We had a hand designing InSports TV, an app for Samsung TV. Users can stream sports broadcasts and rewatch highlights from their favorite matches. Although our client already had a design project, it had some crucial states missing. We mapped out additional screens and added their components to the project’s UI kit. Aside from a sleek design, this app lets users customize their preferences and choose the leagues they like most. This makes the user experience even more personalized.
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5. Development
After design is done, the next step is writing code. To make Roku app development faster and more efficient, we work iteratively in two-week sprints — and suggest you do so, too. Every two weeks, our Roku app developers try to complete one of the app’s features. This ensures that everything is going according to plan and will meet the deadline.
6. QA testing
In our case, we scan the app for bugs throughout the development process to save more time and make the app more secure. It’s possible to try conducting quality assurance only after the development phase is done, but we would advise against it if you’re in a time crunch. It takes more time this way, and it’s easy to miss some edge-case scenarios, like if the user inputs the wrong password.
7. Release and maintain the app
Finally, we release the Roku TV app, get feedback from the first users, and integrate it into the following updates. This process lets our Roku app developers improve the app quickly and attract more clients later down the line.
Challenges in Roku SDK app development
Creating any mobile app from scratch seems like an impossible feat, and a TV app even more so. To help you along your development journey, we’ve outlined two main challenges that startups face regularly. Along with solutions, of course:
Overwhelming interface design
Roku SDK apps are usually displayed on big screens. It can be tempting to cram more features into the project than necessary, but the app will look messy and be confusing to navigate.
Instead of displaying as many features as possible, we suggest finding common ground between beauty and functionality.
| ⭐Purrweb’s case
In the IPTV app, users can track subscriptions and view content from different platforms in one convenient place. In terms of design, we’ve managed to strike a balance between aesthetics and usability. We removed clutter and made interfaces more pleasant to interact with. For example, instead of leaving out tons of text on the main page, we emphasized movie posters to make it easier to scroll through.
Language selection in the smart TV app by Purrweb |
Errors in communication
Some startup owners get unlucky when it comes to app development — they pick unreliable Roku app developers. They take payments upfront, stay radio silent throughout development, and when the time comes to actually present the work, they “bounce.”
One way to avoid this challenge is searching for contractors with a decent reputation. High-profile projects in their portfolio and glowing reviews can serve as indicators in this case.
Cost of Roku application development
It varies. App complexity is the main factor that drives costs — the more features it has, the higher the price. This is why picking as few features as possible for developing an MVP (minimum viable product) is a good way to save money.
Still, if you decide on the Roku SDK for building streaming apps, the average prices can look something like this:
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- Basic app, limited features: $12,000 to $15,000
- Middle-of-the-road app: $60,000
- Complex apps with intricate features and multiple user roles can cost more than $100,000.
Benefits of building a Roku TV app
When it comes to driving growth and user engagement, the Roku platform can help you:
Reach a huge audience
According to nScreenMedia, the number of active Roku users is around 85 million. It’s way higher than traditional channels because it offers a more personalized experience and unrestricted content delivery. Unlike traditional TV, which, as the name suggests, requires a television set, Roku apps can be launched on almost any device.
Stand out from the competition
Speaking about content distribution, companies and creators without Roku TV apps are at the mercy of algorithms that may not always act in their favor. If you create an app, you can actually make your content be seen by the target audience. On the other hand, you don’t have to worry about creating and curating viral content as much.
Empower your brand and build a stronger relationship with your audience
Because of how Roku TV apps work, you can analyze user behavior and use this data to improve content or make it more personalized. The end-product? A piece of content that hooks users in and grows retention rates → more revenue for you.
To make your audience more loyal and establish a trusting relationship, we suggest adopting convenient features: personalized recommendations, watchlists, offline modes, and more. Amazon Prime has managed to build loyalty with its users in part thanks to these features.
5 key features of a Roku TV app
If you aren’t sure which feature to pick for your app, we suggest that you think about the customer and their wants first. Then, choose some features we’ve outlined below:
1. Voice control
Users with smart TV apps don’t rely on remotes alone. They often use voice commands to navigate the app’s catalog, control playback, and switch channels. You can give them the option to use voice control and make finding content easier.
2. Offline viewing
A small quality-of-life improvement that can be a system seller. You can let your users download content and watch it on any device without access to the internet. So if they’re stuck on a plane or their internet is unreliable, they can still enjoy content on your app.
For example, Disney+ lets users download content and stream it offline
3. Quality video streaming
One of the reasons users choose Roku SDK apps instead of regular cable television is better video quality. Watching a movie in 4K feels more immersive than scheduled programming in 720p. You can also try adding quality selection so that users can dial it down and watch videos even if their internet is bad.
4. Easy-to-use search feature
For your users, this is the primary way of searching content. Try adding filters to make the whole process faster — for example, you can go with a default route and let users organize search results by genre, author, or title. Or you can invent a completely new way of organizing the search results in order for it to be more specific to your niche and audience.
Another addition you can make is a predictive search. In this case, instead of inputting the whole phrase into the search box to find the desired video, the app can “predict” what the user wants to watch and display it straight away.
| ⭐Purrweb’s case
Dosis is a streaming platform with video content made by independent artists. After uploading videos to the app, other users can watch it and send donations in cryptocurrency. For artists, this technically works as passive income. The founder wanted us to redesign the app. We did just that, starting with calculating unit economics and mapping out the app design concept. In the end, we turned their abstract business idea into screens ready for development. Predictive search aside, we also implemented a content catalog, where users could filter by genre names and recommendations to get the desired piece of media.
During sign-up, Dosis lets you pick interests. Their algorithms use them later to personalize content feeds and search results. This makes looking for content more convenient and easier. |
5. Customization
To make the experience more personalized, let users choose their own avatars, background colors, and profile descriptions.
You don’t have to pick every feature from this list. Just focus on a select few and flesh them out. Some entrepreneurs lose track and try to integrate as many features as possible, which leads to an app that’s packed with half-baked features on release.
| ⭐ Purrweb’s case
We once helped our client save over $150,000 on Android app development. They wanted to develop a super app for Muslims, emphasizing ‘super’ — their initial plan was to combine the majority of Muslim religious practices in a single dating app. Not only would it let users find a match, but they could also schedule prayer times, track fasting during Ramadan, and read the Quran. To ensure that users actually want access to so many features in one app, we conducted interviews. Turns out, the market segment for this app is too small. Spending thousands of dollars to create an app for such a small audience wouldn’t pay off.
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➡️If you’re planning on building a streaming app for TV, don’t hesitate to contact us using the form below. We’ll help you pick out features and take on the entire development process ourselves. In 3–4 months, you’ll get a functional product that can be sold to users and shown to investors.
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