Apple TV App Development
The premium streaming device with the strictest App Store on any platform.
Apple TV targets the premium end of the streaming market, and tvOS apps consistently rank among the highest-quality experiences on any screen. The App Store review process is rigorous, the focus engine is unique to tvOS, and the Siri Remote introduced gesture-based navigation that requires purpose-built UX decisions. We build tvOS apps that pass review first time and deliver the premium experience Apple TV users expect.
Market context
tvOS and the premium streaming audience
Apple TV devices are concentrated in households that pay for premium streaming services. The tvOS audience skews towards high-income, high-engagement viewers, exactly the subscribers that streaming platforms most want to retain. A well-built Apple TV app is often the platform where power users spend the most time.
tvOS development differs significantly from iOS development despite sharing the same underlying OS. The focus engine, Apple's system for managing which element is selected as users navigate with the Siri Remote, has specific rules that differ from touch interfaces. Layouts, animations, and interactive elements must be designed around the focus engine, not retrofitted to it.
The App Store review process for tvOS is strict. Apps that pass on iOS often require changes for tvOS, particularly around content navigation, playback controls, and subscriptions. We've been through the review process many times and know what to expect.
What we build
Apple TV development services
New tvOS app development
End-to-end Apple TV app development using SwiftUI and AVKit, with Siri Remote navigation, focus engine implementation, and App Store submission.
Focus engine & Siri Remote UX
Purpose-built navigation design for the tvOS focus engine designed from scratch for the 10-foot experience.
App Store certification
We manage the App Store submission and review process, including Apple's TV app guidelines, content ratings, and in-app purchase setup.
AVKit & DRM integration
Native video playback implementation using AVKit and AVPlayer, with FairPlay Streaming DRM for protected content.
Technical expertise
Our Apple TV tech stack
- tvOS SDK
- SwiftUI & UIKit for TV
- AVKit & AVPlayer for video playback
- FairPlay Streaming DRM
- TVUIKit for standard TV components
- Focus engine customisation
- StoreKit for subscriptions
- React Native TV
What catches teams out
Key considerations
- ✓The focus engine requires a fundamentally different approach to layout and interactivity
- ✓Siri Remote gestures (swipe, click, hold) must all be handled explicitly
- ✓Apple's App Store review is significantly stricter for TV apps than iOS
- ✓FairPlay DRM requires a content key server, different from Widevine on Android platforms
- ✓tvOS apps cannot use all iOS frameworks, the available API surface is a subset
Why work with us
A decade of enterprise TV app delivery.
We have spent ten years delivering TV applications for broadcasters and streaming platforms across the Middle East and Europe. Our experience spans every major platform, every certification process, and the full range of technical challenges that come with enterprise-grade streaming at scale.
Deep platform knowledge
Ten years of hands-on delivery across all six major TV platforms: From architecture to app store approval.
Real-device testing lab
Every project is tested on physical hardware across all supported platforms and OS versions before delivery.
Certification track record
Extensive submission experience across Samsung, LG, Google Play, Apple, Roku, and Amazon Appstore.
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