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What is a Samsung Tizen TV?
A Samsung Tizen TV is a smart TV produced by Samsung Electronics and runs on the Tizen OS. Tizen OS is a Linux-based open-source operating system (OS) developed by Samsung and Intel. Apart from smart TVs, Samsung also uses Tizen in its cameras.
What are Samsung Tizen TV apps?
Samsung Tizen TV apps are created specifically for Samsung smart TVs. Streaming, gaming, and lifestyle are some of the most common Samsung TV app niches.
Users can find these apps on the Samsung Smart Hub platform and install them on their TVs. Samsung TV apps can create content recommendations catered to the user’s tastes. They also have voice control and can be integrated with smart home systems.
What is the difference between Android TV apps and Samsung TV apps?
Android and Samsung TV apps target different platforms. This distinction dictates the audience, as well as the way the app looks.
On one hand, Android TV offers more customization options. Users can personalize their experience by installing third-party apps from the Google Play Store. Android also has a bigger ecosystem.
Android TV lets you access the billions of apps available on the Google Play Store right from your TV screen
On the other hand, Tizen apps are more responsive and generally load faster. In addition, many find that the Samsung TV interface is better organized and easier to use.
Samsung TV is the preferred option for billions of people around the world because of its sleek design and responsiveness
Why is investing in Samsung TV app development worth it?
You might be wondering if it’s worth the money and time in the first place. Here are a couple of reasons you might want to consider investing in this niche.
1. Millions of users worldwide
Samsung TV has the biggest user base out of all smart TV platforms. According to a report published by CTVMA, Tizen OS had a market share of 12.9% in 2024, making it the leader among other smart TV operating systems.
Numbers provided by CTVMA
2. Improved user retention and engagement
Since Samsung Smart TVs can generate personalized recommendations, your application has a high chance of reaching its target audience. In turn, user engagement will also increase. The more the content that the user sees fits their preferences, the more time they’ll want to spend on the app.
3. Niche-specific growth
Experts tell us that the streaming service market is oversaturated. But there are still ways to make your app stand out and gain profit. The specialty sector in SVOD (subscription video on demand) is rapidly growing. In 2024, it outpaced premium SVOD services by 12.3% year-over-year.
Instead of aiming for the popular niches, try exploring the road less traveled. Combining that with the impressive watch times of smart TV apps can help increase your project’s chances of success.
4. A promising revenue source
Releasing a Samsung Smart TV app can help you find a stable source of income. Ads and paid subscriptions are two major ways of monetizing a smart TV app. Smart TV ad revenue is expected to grow another 20 percent in 2025, reaching around $46 billion.
A Step-by-step guide to Samsung TV app development
To help you get started, we’ve compiled this handy list of steps you must follow to create a high-functioning Samsung TV application.
1. Getting familiar with the Tizen platform
Start by understanding how Tizen works. That includes researching its features, architecture, and how it differs from Android and other platforms. While previous development experience might help, getting used to Tizen will take time.
There are a lot of useful resources for Tizen developers, from official documentation to community forums. We’ll go into them in more detail later in this article.
2. Getting the necessary Tizen development tools
The Samsung TV SDK (software development kit) is a set of tools for developing apps for Samsung Smart TVs. It includes the official IDE, TV Simulator, TV Emulator, and Web Inspector.
Tizen Studio, the official Tizen development IDE (integrated development environment), includes tools for building, debugging, and testing.
Tizen Studio might remind you of development environments you already know
TV Simulator mimics the software environment of a Samsung TV. TV Emulator helps imitate the hardware features of a Samsung TV without needing to test it on a real TV screen.
TV Emulator helps mimic the hardware of a smart TV, while TV Simulator imitates its software
Finally, Web Inspector is a debugging and optimizing tool for Tizen apps. It helps developers catch poorly written code that could affect app performance.
Web Inspector shows all the resources and activity on web pages, making code debugging more efficient
3. Choosing the right application type
Decide whether you want to create a web application or a native application. Most Samsung TV apps are web apps because they’re easier to develop and deploy.
Native Tizen apps are known to be smoother because they have access to every platform feature. They are also more expensive to develop than web or cross-platform apps because of their complexity.
Web apps are websites saved on your Samsung Smart TV. They are easier to develop and maintain as they use standard web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Opting for a web app is a great option for those who want to have high-quality results but still save money.
4. Designing
When designing for Samsung Smart TVs, you have to remember that your Samsung TV app user interface should be optimized for a big screen and remote control navigation.
This might include prioritizing clarity over bold, unique stylistic choices. A good rule of thumb is that your TV app UI should be readable at least at 3 meters (10 feet).
By the way, the colors you choose matter too. Most streaming apps have a dark-colored palette because it puts less strain on the viewers’ eyes, extending the time they spend on the app.
| ⭐Our experience
This is exactly why Purrweb used dark colors when designing the UI for the ipYES IPTV app. We also chose the Roboto typeface because it has a neutral look that makes it readable from afar.
For this application project, we ended up making 6 apps in total, including the ones for Samsung TV, LG TV, Android TV, and TV OS |
5. Utilizing Tizen APIs
Samsung provides an array of APIs for Tizen app developers to help them create responsive, high-functioning apps. APIs are programs that help software retrieve data from outside sources.
Media playback, multimedia support, push notifications, Bluetooth connectivity, and machine learning are all features that need APIs to function. It’s impossible to imagine a TV app without them, as they play a major role in creating an enjoyable experience.
6. Testing on real devices
Before finishing up the design of your Tizen app, you need to ensure that it actually looks and works well when installed on a Samsung Smart TV. When our development team was working on the InSports TV app, we had to buy a brand-new Samsung TV for them to properly test it.
If you don’t have a real-life Samsung TV to test your app on, you can use the Tizen Emulator tool. During the app testing stage, make sure to pay attention to performance and user interactions. To put it simply, your app must work quickly and smoothly and be pleasing to the eye.
7. Integrating third-party services
Integrating third-party services is not always necessary. However, they can help enhance user experience and the app’s functionality. For example, you could use APIs to let your viewers share content on various social media platforms.
Not all third-party services are created equal, though, so be careful when integrating them. Fortunately, it’s not the well-known and widely approved integrations you need to worry about. Just beware of the ones that haven’t been properly tested yet or have unclear documentation or security policy.
| ⭐Our experience
When done right, third-party integrations can be a great boost for your app. A great example of that is the business report service we’ve developed, which has a ChatGPT integration. The AI helps users write non-financial reports in compliance with specific sections of the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative).
Purrweb developed a service that has a ChatGPT-powered report-writing feature |
8. Preparing for app distribution
To submit your app to the Samsung Smart Hub, you need to have an account on the Samsung Developer Portal. Apart from the app itself, you’ll need to prepare an app icon, screenshots of your app, as well as a description of its UI.
After you’ve submitted your application, Samsung tests it to make sure it fits the requirements of the Samsung Smart Hub platform. In case your app doesn’t get accepted on the first try, you’ll have to fix the problems and resubmit it.
9. Gathering feedback
Gather the very first feedback from real-life users. Read the reviews or conduct surveys and take note of the audience’s reaction. What do they like and don’t like? Have they noticed any bugs? This is the stage where listening to your users and tending to their complaints and requests can be a turning point for the success of your application project.
Useful resources for Samsung Smart TV developers
Tizen OS developers have a diverse array of tools and resources at their disposal. Here are some of the most widely among them.
1. Samsung Developer Portal
A platform providing tools, resources, and guidelines for developing applications for Samsung Smart TVs.
This is the first place you should go to for any Samsung development-related questions
2. Tizen Docs
A collection of detailed Tizen OS documentation. It has all the information on the operating system’s features and best practices for developers creating smart TV apps.
If you have specific questions on Tizen development, check out Tizen Docs
3. Remote Test Lab
A cloud-based testing environment that lets developers test their apps on actual Samsung Smart TVs remotely. This helps ensure the apps are compatible and perform well in real-life settings.
Remote Lab helps developers who don’t have access to Samsung devices test their solutions
4. Forums
Online communities where anyone can ask questions, collaborate on projects, and share knowledge and experiences. Some are moderated by Samsung Developers, while others are completely community-driven.
Visit forums if you have unanswered questions or are looking for a community
Samsung app smart TV development: Custom or ready-made solutions?
There are two major routes you can take with TV app development. On one hand, you can either pick a ready-made solution out of the large variety available today. On the other hand, you can opt for a custom solution — a fully original app that is developed from scratch.
Ready-made solutions are like leasing an app from a provider who’ll handle everything for you. This way of getting your own Samsung TV app is easier and cheaper than others. Unfortunately, it offers very little room for customization and makes you completely dependent on the service provider.
It is true that custom-made TV apps are more expensive and take longer to build. However, they provide endless customization options, making it possible to create a solution that fits your application project like a glove.
Another advantage of developing a smart TV solution from scratch is higher user engagement. With a custom-made interface, you have a higher chance of capturing your audience’s attention with something unique. Providing a brand-new visual experience is crucial to retaining users.
Finally, developing a smart TV app from scratch makes you independent of third-party service providers. You won’t have to worry about your provider company going out of business or terminating the support of your app.
To get an app tailor-made to your specific needs, you can develop it yourself, if you’re a Tizen developer, or with the help of your in-house team. But what if you don’t have one? Wouldn’t it be too time- and money-consuming to hire one for just one project?
This is why many choose to outsource their TV app development. First, working with a professional development company is cheaper in the long run. Second, you won’t have to waste time building an entirely new development team. Third, you’ll be hiring experts who already have established internal processes and work well together.
If outsourcing Tizen app development sounds like the move, consider Purrweb. Shoot us a message to get an evaluation of your project.
Popular Samsung TV Apps to Inspire Your Project
To get inspired and find some practical ideas for your Tizen app development project, take a look at three successful Samsung TV apps.
Samsung Smart TV displays all the apps you can use on the home screen
YouTube
The community that exists around YouTube and its creators is truly inspiring. This platform has comments and subscriptions, which help foster engagement and retain viewers.
Netflix
Netflix’s user interface is intuitive and easy to use. This is a great example of a platform that’s engineered to be popular. It offers personalized recommendations along with a seamless viewing experience, encouraging people to binge-watch shows for hours.
InSports TV
| ⭐Our experience
InSports TV is a Tizen TV app Purrweb developed for a US-based client. This streaming service lets viewers only watch the highlights of sports events. For many sports fans, this is much more convenient than watching the entire recording or skipping to the best bits manually.
With the InSports TV app, viewers can skip right to the highlights of sports events |
The future of Samsung TV App development
Now that you are familiar with the best practices of Samsung TV app development, you should have no issues creating one. You can either do it yourself or enlist the help of a professional software development company.
➡️ At Purrweb, we’ve been creating web, mobile, and TV apps for various niches like health, fitness, finance, and streaming.
Ready to bring your project into the world but aren’t sure where to start? Contact Purrweb today, and we’ll get back to you in 24 hours to discuss your idea. To learn more about our projects, check out our portfolio.
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