--- title: "What Is a Smart TV App? Definition and Examples | RentAnOTT" description: "A smart TV app is a streaming application built for a television platform such as Tizen, webOS, Android TV, Fire TV or tvOS. See what each one needs." url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/smart-tv-app" markdown_url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/smart-tv-app.md" category: "Devices" updated: "2026-10-05" --- # What is a smart TV app? A smart TV app is an application built to run on a television's operating system or on a streaming device attached to it, and installed from that platform's app store. For a streaming service it is the way viewers watch on the big screen. ## The main smart TV platforms - Samsung Tizen: Samsung televisions; apps are web-based - LG webOS: LG televisions; apps are web-based - Android TV and Google TV: Sony, TCL, Hisense and many others, plus operator boxes - Fire TV: Amazon sticks and televisions - Apple TV (tvOS): Apple's set-top box ## How a TV app differs from a mobile app - Input is a remote control: everything must be reachable with arrow keys and select - The screen is viewed from a distance, so text and artwork are larger and layouts simpler - Typing is slow, so sign-in is usually done by scanning a code with a phone - Hardware is modest and long-lived: apps must run on sets that are several years old - Each platform has its own DRM and playback requirements ## What makes TV apps costly to build The platforms share little code. A Tizen app does not run on webOS, and neither runs on Apple TV. Each has its own store, certification tests and yearly changes. A service that builds its own must maintain four or five separate apps, which is why most use a platform that supplies them. ## Smart TV app on RentAnOTT RentAnOTT TV apps are $149/month for Android TV with Fire TV, and $149/month each for Apple TV, Samsung and LG. Store submission is included, with a 6-month minimum per app. [See app pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing). ## Related terms - [CTV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/ctv) — CTV (connected TV) is a television that can stream video over the internet, either because it is a smart TV or because a streaming stick, set-top box or games console is attached to it. - [Android TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/android-tv) — Android TV is Google's version of Android for televisions, streaming sticks and set-top boxes. It runs on sets from many manufacturers and on operator boxes, and apps for it are distributed through Google Play. - [Fire TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/fire-tv) — Fire TV is Amazon's streaming platform. It runs on Fire TV Stick devices, set-top boxes and Fire TV televisions, and its apps are distributed through the Amazon Appstore. - [Apple TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/apple-tv) — Apple TV is Apple's streaming set-top box, which runs the tvOS operating system. Streaming services reach it by publishing a tvOS app on the App Store. The name is also used for Apple's own TV app and subscription service, which are separate things. - [Samsung Tizen](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/tizen) — Tizen is the operating system that runs on Samsung smart TVs. A streaming service reaches Samsung television owners by publishing a Tizen app through Samsung's app store for televisions. - [LG webOS](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/webos) — webOS is the operating system that runs on LG smart TVs, and on televisions from some other brands that license it. A streaming service reaches those viewers by publishing a webOS app in the LG Content Store. - [App store submission](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/app-store-submission) — App store submission is the process of preparing a streaming app, sending it to a store such as Apple's App Store, Google Play, the Amazon Appstore or a smart TV store for review, and publishing it once approved. - [OTT app](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/ott-app) — An OTT app is the application through which viewers watch a streaming service on a phone, tablet, television or browser. It handles browsing, sign-in, payment and playback, and is published under the service's own brand. - [Native app](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/native-app) — A native app is an application built specifically for one operating system, such as iOS, Android or tvOS, using that platform's own programming languages and tools, and installed from its app store. It has direct access to the device's video player, DRM, storage and notifications. ## Further reading - [OTT app builder](https://www.rentanott.com/tools/ott-app-builder) - [White-label streaming platform buyer's guide](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/white-label-streaming-platform) - [How to start a streaming service](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/how-to-start-a-streaming-service) ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need a separate app for every TV brand? For each platform, yes. Brands that share a platform, such as the many makers that use Android TV, are covered by one app. ### How do viewers pay in a smart TV app? Either through the platform's own billing, where offered, or by subscribing on the web or a phone and signing in on the television with a code. ### Will a TV app work on older televisions? It depends on the model year. Each platform sets a minimum version, and testing on older hardware is part of certification. All 163 terms: [Streaming and OTT glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary). ## Book a demo Tell RentAnOTT what you are launching. The team walks through the platform and maps the path to go-live around your catalog, markets and revenue model. Book a demo: https://www.rentanott.com/contact ## More from RentAnOTT - [Home](https://www.rentanott.com/index.md) — What RentAnOTT is, what every plan includes, and how launch works - [Features](https://www.rentanott.com/features.md) — Every core feature and optional add-on - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing.md) — Platform tiers, apps, add-ons, usage rates and example bills in INR and USD - [Free tools](https://www.rentanott.com/tools.md) — OTT app builder and calculators for streaming revenue, bandwidth, bitrate and pricing - [Insights](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs.md) — All streaming business articles - [Glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary.md) — Definitions of streaming and OTT terms - [Book a demo](https://www.rentanott.com/contact.md) — Talk to RentAnOTT about your launch Full site in one file: https://www.rentanott.com/llms-full.txt