Versatile video-on-demand platform

Blockbuster was an iconic US company known for video and game rentals. Danish TDC acquired its brand rights to launch a video streaming platform in the Nordics. Now Blockbuster is over 8,000 movies and 350 seasons of TV series.

Blockbuster

A platform providing fast and high-quality transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) to its customers

Project idea

Create a streaming service that allows viewers in the Nordic region to purchase or rent high-quality movies and TV series.

Target audience

Viewers across the Nordic region (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway).

Project Challenges
  • Create a sophisticated filtering system
  • Implement a parental control feature
  • Allow offline access to purchased movies (iOS, Android)
  • Integrate a payment system for purchasing/renting movies
  • Non-standard development approach with management, testing, and design on client’s side and engineering on our side
Results

Our team developed a complex search system and created video players for iOS and Android. We’ve designed a completely new UI, built iOS, reengineered Android and Android TV apps, and partially moved to GraphQL.

Planning stage

Input

The client initially had:

  • Ready-made Android app
  • Android TV apps that did not satisfy customers' requirements
  • Custom UI design..
Analysis

We did a careful project analysis:

  • Code review
  • Tech stack review
  • Meetings with Account Manager
Outcomes

Our work resulted in:

  • Defining list of tech requirements
  • Putting a project team together
  • Reengineering Android and Android TV apps
  • Changing old UI to the one provided by the client
video-on-demand wireframevideo-on-demand design

Main features of the project

After the planning stage, our developers started working on the platform.

Main features of the project

Users can buy clip cards for renting any three movies from all available on the platform. The card is a payment method that works on all devices and allows users to rent movies. Once a user starts the rental period, they can watch a movie as many times as they want within 48 hours.

video-on-demand
video-on-demand

Viewing progress

Viewers always keep track of their watching process. Even if they’ve closed a movie and decided to get back to it later. As the platform saves viewed movies and progress in a user profile, customers can play the video again at any moment. Or check how much time is left without even hitting the play button.

Parental control

Movies are sorted out by rating: allowed for all, for all but kids under 7, under 11 or 15 years. Thus, parents can set restrictions for their underaged kids in their profiles. If a movie falls into the 'restricted' category, the platform asks viewers to enter a password to get access to the video.

video-on-demand
video-on-demand

Working across all platforms

Our team was working on this product with cross-platform capabilities in mind. Users can watch their library via native apps for Android, iOS, Android TV, and tvOS. There is also a web version and support for video streaming from mobile devices to TVs via Chromecast and AirPlay.

Tech stack

The following tools were used to build mobile, TV, and web apps

video-on-demand

Testimonials

Client Logo
Justin Shaifer CTO at Blockbuster, TDC

We’re very happy with Androswift. They seem to work in the way that we do, and we have a close collaboration with them. Every day we talk to the developers and outline what needs to be done.

Client Logo
Gustavo Peres CEO at Foodito

We found Androswift had played the main role in helping with our customized web development, web applications and plugin customization. Having Androswift on onboard gave us the confidence to say yes to all jobs! Requested project edits were returned quickly.

Client Logo
Tim Savage Owner

I was at first worried about doing business with developers in another country as I am based in the UK, but I had spoken to a guy from Androswift called Kalpesh, who assured me that using Androswift for all my development work would not be a risk at all and they have proven me right.