E-Guide | Are Your Smart TV OTT Apps Up to Scratch? Four UX Must-Haves for Big Screens

The direction of travel for in-home streaming is clear. While mobile still dominates short-form viewing, Smart TVs now reign supreme in the living room. By 2026, at least 50% of global households, or around 1.1 billion homes, are expected to own one.

But with sky-high demand comes equally high expectations. On Smart TVs, every second counts. If users struggle to log in, cannot find content quickly, or encounter clunky playback, they will leave and may not return.

That is why we have created our new free guide: “Are Your Smart TV OTT Apps Up to Scratch? Four UX Must-Haves for Big Screens.” Drawing on years of experience building and optimising Smart TV OTT apps across platforms like Samsung, LG, Android TV, and Vizio, we have identified the UX essentials that can make or break engagement with your service.

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What You Will Learn in the Guide

In under 10 minutes, you will gain actionable insights into the four areas where OTT apps succeed or fail on the big screen:

  • Onboarding that converts. How to turn curiosity into commitment in under 60 seconds.

  • Navigation that just makes sense. Cut the friction and help viewers get to content faster.

  • Family-friendly and accessible UX. Why inclusivity is not optional and how to get it right.

  • Performance that delights. Optimise speed, reliability, and smooth playback to reduce churn risk.

You will also discover future-proof trends shaping Smart TV experiences so you can stay ahead of user expectations.

If you are a niche or mid-sized OTT service, you are already competing with streaming giants like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon. You may not have their budgets, but with the right UX, you can deliver a polished big-screen experience that keeps audiences engaged.

two spreads of the Eguide

Get the Free Guide

Smart TV apps are not just another device. They are the place where your service needs to shine. Small improvements to UX can translate into big gains in sign-ups, retention, and satisfaction. Download the guide now and learn the four Smart TV UX must-haves that can help your OTT app truly compete on the big screen.

Want to discuss your Smart TV strategy and how to improve engagement on the big screen? Contact us to start the conversation.

Follow Magine Pro on LinkedIn to stay up to date with our latest product news, announcements, and industry insights.

Magine Pro at IBC 2025: Demos, Discussions & Drinks

We’re gearing up for IBC in Amsterdam this September, and we’d love to see you there. You’ll find us in Hall 5, Stand D72, where our team will be showing how Magine Pro helps streaming services launch faster, scale globally, grow audiences, and monetise flexibly.

Whether you’re an operator, distributor, or content owner, we’re here to show how our flexible platform and expert team can help you simplify operations, reduce time-to-market, and unlock new revenue opportunities. Book a meeting with us at the stand to explore how we can help you.

Live Demos at the Stand

Throughout the show, we’ll be running hands-on demos of our OTT platform and CMS. You’ll also be able to explore the full user experience across devices, including Smart TVs.

Here’s what you can expect:

Distribute & Scale
Featuring seamless distribution to leading platforms and custom apps
See how Magine Pro enables seamless content distribution and scale with partners like Stockholm Stream and Lighthouse Growth, delivering to platforms such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Magine Pro. Our platform also supports the creation of refined custom applications, helping services reduce time-to-market, streamline global delivery, and expand easily across devices and destinations.

Smarter Operations with a Touch of AI
Featuring our enhanced CMS Console with smarter tools
A first look at our enhanced Console, designed to improve the user experience and make daily service management smoother. With a touch of AI working quietly in the background to automate repetitive tasks, surface insights faster, and give operators more time to focus on what matters.

Drive Customer Growth
Featuring the Referral Platform
Discover how one of our customers is using Magine Pro’s new in-platform referral tools to drive organic subscriber growth, boost fan engagement, and open new acquisition channels, without added development effort.

Adapt Revenue Models
Featuring Anonymous User Support, AVOD & FAST
Explore how Magine Pro enables flexible monetisation strategies. From hybrid subscription + ad tiers, to supporting anonymous viewers, to launching FAST channels, we’ll show you how to adapt revenue models to fit your audience and market.

   

Hear from Our CEO on Stage

Don’t miss our CEO, Matthew Wilkinson, on the panel Combatting churn through smarter engagement and personalisation on Sunday, 14 September, 10:15–11:00. He’ll be joined by industry leaders from XRoadMedia and ADB SA to discuss how streaming services can retain subscribers by delivering more personalised and engaging experiences.

Keep the Conversation Flowing: Drinks at Rijnbar

Saturday, 13 September, 17:30 – 19:30
Rijnbar, Amsterdam

Join us for an evening of good drinks, great company, and relaxed networking by the riverside. We’re co-hosting alongside our friends at Marketlyft, Lighthouse Growth, Bunny.net, and Stockholm Stream.

This is the perfect chance to connect with peers and partners shaping the future of media, streaming, and growth. Whether you’re an old friend or a new face, we’d love to welcome you.

RSVP here to secure your spot!

See You in Amsterdam

IBC is always one of the highlights of our year, and 2025 is shaping up to be bigger than ever. Come find us at Hall 5, Stand D72 to experience the latest in OTT innovation first-hand.

Book a meeting with our team in advance to make sure you get a slot that suits you.

Is OTT Rebundling? What Netflix’s Aggregation Move Signals for the Industry

A recent Streaming Media article highlighted a significant shift: Netflix is quietly moving into aggregation, positioning itself not just as a destination for content, but as a hub for other services. The catalyst? A “first-of-its-kind” partnership with French broadcaster TF1, which will bring TF1’s live channels and on-demand content into the Netflix app for users in France.

This deal puts Netflix in a role traditionally played by cable, aggregating third-party content, simplifying access, and locking in audiences. Industry watchers have long predicted a return to bundling in streaming. Few expected Netflix to be the one leading the way.

Streaming was meant to offer freedom and flexibility. But today’s reality often involves juggling multiple apps, overlapping content, and rising subscription costs. For many users, the à la carte model is starting to feel more fragmented than freeing.

Netflix isn’t alone in this approach. Amazon, Apple, and Roku have long offered aggregated content experiences. What sets Netflix apart is its global scale, deeply engaged user base, and ubiquity across Smart TVs and devices. When Netflix moves, the industry pays attention.

For smaller OTT services, the implications are worth watching, but this isn’t necessarily bad news. Discovery is becoming more complex, and the battle to own the subscriber relationship is evolving. But with the right foundation, independent services are well-positioned to stay competitive, whether they remain standalone or choose to also collaborate within aggregated ecosystems.

At Magine Pro, we see this trend reinforcing the need for agility. That might mean offering FAST channels alongside SVOD content to reach broader audiences. It could involve introducing pricing tiers, localising experiences, or distributing through platforms like Amazon Channels while maintaining control of the core service.

This isn’t a return to the old cable bundle, but it is a new chapter, one where simplicity, discoverability, and user experience take centre stage. We see the streaming services that succeed will be those built to adapt.

 

Attending IBC this year? Drop by Hall 5, Stand D72 to see how we help our partners build flexible, future-ready OTT platforms. You can book a dedicated meeting with the team here for a full demo.

Ready for IBC 2025? What to Ask When Evaluating OTT Platforms

IBC is next month, and for many in the industry, it’s the ideal moment to reflect, reset, and rethink your streaming strategy. Whether you’re launching something new, scaling an existing service, or considering a platform switch, the questions you ask now can define your success for years to come.

With tighter budgets and rising viewer expectations, choosing the right OTT partner is no longer just a technical decision; it’s a strategic one.

At Magine Pro, we’ve helped broadcasters, content owners, and streaming operators around the world build flexible, scalable services across every screen. And if you’re thinking about making a change, our OTT Platform Migration Guide walks you through exactly how simple it can be, with step-by-step timelines, key considerations, and tips for a smooth transition.

We also know how overwhelming it can be to evaluate platforms that often sound (and look) very similar. So here are five essential questions to ask when exploring your options at IBC.

 1. Can I make changes to my service without a developer?

Your audience moves fast. You should be able to respond just as quickly. Look for a platform that puts you in control, from metadata and promotions to layout and collections, through an intuitive CMS or operator console.
With Magine Pro’s Console, customers can update content rows, create offers, manage access, and push changes live instantly.

2. How does the platform perform across Smart TVs?

Mobile-first isn’t enough. Big-screen viewing is still dominant, especially in living rooms. Make sure your platform offers a polished, responsive UX across Smart TVs and connected devices.
Magine Pro delivers native Smart TV apps with a lean-back UX that keeps users engaged.

3. Can I launch in new markets without rebuilding my service?

Scaling shouldn’t mean starting over. The right OTT platform will support multiple regions, languages, currencies, and monetisation models.
Magine Pro supports global expansion with a flexible architecture designed for growth.

4. Is the platform easy to operate, not just easy to launch?

Launching is step one. Retaining subscribers and running a smooth operation is where the real work begins. Look for automation features (like dunning, notifications, promo codes), actionable analytics, and simple onboarding tools.
Magine Pro helps operators reduce churn and increase lifetime value with built-in retention tools.

5. Will the team feel like a partner or a vendor?

Tech matters, but so do people. Ask about onboarding, support, and what happens after the contract is signed.
At Magine Pro, we work closely with our customers to help them launch, grow, and adapt, bringing a collaborative mindset and real industry expertise.

Meet Us at IBC 2025

We’ll be at stand D72 in Hall 5 showcasing our proven OTT platform, demoing our Smart TV-ready streaming services, and walking you through the power of our Console.

If you’re attending IBC and want to explore how we can support your next move, we’d love to talk. Book a meeting or simply drop by the stand. Use the code IBC7357 for a complimentary visitor’s pass to IBC

 

How to Reduce Churn Fast: 5 Retention Tactics for OTT Platforms

Struggling with subscriber churn? These quick-win tactics can help you boost retention and protect revenue, starting today.

Subscriber churn is an expensive problem. Whether it’s a user actively cancelling or a payment silently failing in the background, every lost subscriber impacts your growth, ARPU, and acquisition ROI.

Before diving into these five proven tactics, download our free 7-Step Streaming Churn Self-Assessment to see where your current strategy stands and where you can improve.

Not all churn is inevitable. At Magine Pro, we’ve built smart tools and features into our platform to help streaming operators tackle both voluntary and involuntary churn without heavy lifting. Here are five high-impact retention tactics you can activate today:

  1. Send Card Expiry Reminders

Involuntary churn from expired payment methods is one of the most easily avoided revenue drains. Magine Pro’s built-in card expiry notifications automatically send timely reminders to users across devices.

  1. Curate an Engaging Content Experience

If your catalogue feels stale or generic, users are more likely to lose interest. Use metadata, fresh artwork and custom content rows to highlight fresh, relevant recommendations. Magine Pro lets operators curate collections by genre, mood, artist, or even seasonal events, directly from the CMS, no developer needed.

  1. Automate Dunning Flows

When a payment fails, the follow-up process is critical. Our dunning automation tools give users more chances to resolve issues without leaving the service. Magine Pro customers who use dunning flows typically recover over half of failed payment attempts.

  1. Run Win-Back Campaigns

Some churn is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. Run win-back campaigns that offer time-limited discounts or highlight new content drops. You can trigger these from your CRM or marketing tools connected via the Magine Pro Console.

  1. Turn Reactivated Users into Long-Term Subscribers

Winning back a churned user is just the start—the real value lies in keeping them around. Track reactivation trends over time and identify what keeps returning users engaged. Use these insights to reinforce your messaging, fine-tune offers, and build long-term loyalty with smart, automated follow-ups.

 

Ready to See Where You’re Losing Subscribers?

To help you evaluate your current approach, we’ve created a free 7-Step Streaming Churn Self-Assessment. Download it here and find out where your service currently stands. 

Need help improving retention? Speak to our team to explore what’s possible.

 

Give Viewers a Live-First Experience: Introducing the FAST Channel Feature from Magine Pro

Linear-style content is making a comeback, and for good reason. With so much content available on demand, many viewers crave simplicity, curation, and the ease of just tuning in. That’s where Magine Pro’s new FAST channel feature comes in.

Available across web, mobile, and Smart TV platforms, this new feature allows our customers to create a fully integrated FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channel directly within their streaming service. It brings the spontaneity of live viewing to an on-demand experience.

What Is a FAST Channel?

A FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channel mimics traditional TV experiences by offering a continuous, scheduled stream of content, without requiring users to search, browse, or choose. This encourages click-in, reduces decision fatigue, and helps to drive longer session times.

Why Add a FAST Channel?

Whether you’re operating an AVOD, SVOD, hybrid, or niche content platform, a FAST channel can add real value:

  • Drive Instant Engagement
    Give users a “just press play” option that removes friction and increases watch starts.
  • Boost Ad Revenue & Session Length
    Longer viewing sessions mean more ad impressions and better content exposure.
  • Maximise Existing Content
    Turn your VOD library into a curated, always-on experience without new content production or rights complexities.

 Where It Appears

On Magine Pro-powered platforms, the FAST Channel feature is intelligently integrated into your service UI:

  • Smart TVs: A live channel collection carousel displays the current broadcast alongside the next upcoming title, giving viewers a clear snapshot of what’s on now and what’s next.
  • Web & Mobile: The same live channel carousel is available here too, showing the current and upcoming content. Users can also access an EPG view with a full schedule spanning the past 7 days and the week ahead.

Supported Devices & Versions

The FAST channel feature is supported globally across all major platforms. 

  • Web 
  • Smart TV (LG, Samsung, Vizio) 
  • Android & Android TV
  • iOS
  • Apple TV (tvOS)

Give Your Viewers a Reason to Press Play 

Sometimes, the simplest choice is the one that sticks. With Magine Pro’s FAST channel feature, you can deliver a lean-back, live-first experience that complements your on-demand catalogue and keeps users watching longer.

Want to know more about the FAST channel feature? And whether it’s right for your service? Contact the Magine Pro team.

Why Retaining Streaming Subscribers Is More Cost-Effective Than Acquiring New Ones

Subscriber churn is one of the most persistent and frustrating challenges for streaming services. You work hard to acquire users through marketing campaigns, trials, partnerships, and then just as quickly, they disappear. But here’s the thing: retaining your existing subscribers is almost always more cost-effective than acquiring new ones.

Before you invest more into lead gen and acquisition, ask yourself: What if improving your churn rate could give you better ROI, faster?

To help you benchmark your current strategy and identify areas for improvement, we created the 7-Step Streaming Churn Self-Assessment, a free checklist and infographic that covers all the key areas from engagement and payments to win-back campaigns. Download the checklist & infographic to see where you’re loosing subscribers, and how to fix it.

The Hidden Cost of Subscriber Churn

Did you know it can cost up to 5x more to acquire a new subscriber than to retain an existing one? But churn doesn’t just mean lost revenue; it increases your customer acquisition costs (CAC), impacts brand perception, and can stall your growth trajectory.

And while voluntary churn (users actively cancelling) is easy to spot, involuntary churn is often more damaging, as failed payments, expired cards, and billing errors silently erode your subscriber base. If you’re not actively addressing both, you leave money on the table.

Why Retention Is a Smarter Growth Strategy

Keeping subscribers engaged and loyal doesn’t just protect your revenue, it multiplies it:

  • According to Bain & Company, improving retention by just 5% can increase profits by 25–95%.
  • Happy, loyal users are more likely to refer others, reducing your acquisition costs
  • Engaged subscribers are more open to upselling opportunities (premium plans, paid content, etc.)

Retention isn’t just a back-end KPI. It’s a front-line business growth lever. At Magine Pro we’ve seen simple card expiry reminders that auto alert users before their card expired help our customers see an 18% reduction in involuntary churn. Other retention-focused tools we offer within our platform have also driven strong results – see the infographic checklist for more..

What Causes Viewers to Churn?

Understanding churn is the first step toward solving it. Common culprits include:

  • Content fatigue: Viewers run out of things to watch or don’t see enough fresh, personalised recommendations
  • Poor user experience: Clunky navigation, slow loading, or inconsistent app performance
  • Payment failure: Involuntary churn from expired or declined payment methods
  • Low engagement: Users forget the service exists if there are no timely nudges, updates, or perks

Churn is often a combination of several small friction points that build up over time. The first step to solving it? Understanding what’s causing it.


Take the Self-Assessment

Use our 7-step checklist to evaluate how well your platform is set up to keep users around. From onboarding to billing to re-engagement, it’s designed to help you spot the gaps and take action fast.

Whether you’re an AVOD service, SVOD operator, or somewhere in between, this guide will help you pinpoint what’s working and what needs attention. Download here.

Want to learn more about Magine Pro’s retention tools and how our platform can support your growth? Speak to a member of our team to explore how we can help reduce churn and book a personalised demo.

CHECKLIST: How to Reduce Churn and Boost Retention for Your OTT Streaming Service

If you’re operating an OTT or streaming service, subscriber churn is one of your most critical metrics and one of your biggest threats to growth. But here’s the good news: much of it is preventable.

At Magine Pro, we’ve created a free 7-step retention checklist and infographic to help streaming platforms identify where they’re at risk of losing subscribers and take action to keep them engaged.

DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST

Why Retention Matters More Than Ever

Acquiring new subscribers is expensive, often up to 5x more than retaining an existing one. Yet many services still focus most of their energy on acquisition, while overlooking the low-hanging fruit: smarter retention.

Churn doesn’t just affect revenue. It impacts your customer lifetime value (LTV), marketing ROI, and future growth potential. For OTT and niche streaming services especially, even a small improvement in retention can translate into a major performance gain.

What You’ll Find in the Checklist

This guide gives you a simple, actionable way to assess your current retention efforts, backed by anonymised performance insights from real Magine Pro customers.

Here’s what you’ll get:

✅ A 7-step self-assessment to evaluate your OTT churn strategy
✅ Aggregated delta improvements across features like dunning flows, win-back campaigns, and card expiry reminders
✅ Practical retention tactics you can implement today
✅ Key benchmarks and tips to strengthen subscriber loyalty and reduce involuntary churn

Whether you’re losing users to failed payments, low engagement, or a lack of reactivation strategy, this checklist will help you understand where you’re losing revenue and how to get it back.

Start Reducing Churn Today

If you’re ready to stop churn before it impacts your bottom line, this guide is for you. Download the free checklist now and see how your strategy stacks up.

Interested in improving your service’s retention performance? Get in touch with a member of our team to discuss how you can reduce churn and grow subscriber value. With deep experience in the B2C streaming market, we’re here to help you build a stronger, more sustainable OTT business.

Contact us to learn more, or follow us on LinkedIn for the latest product updates, feature launches, and streaming insights.

 

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