Mobile appVideo, music & media
BluTV was a Turkish subscription streaming service, and what set it apart was bringing locally produced series and licensed international titles together in a single ad-free subscription on every device. Its growth rode on viewers who wanted bold stories they would never see on broadcast television. In this model, original content and uninterrupted playback quality are the two things that keep subscribers from cancelling.
Building something similar takes a family of clients (iOS, Android, Smart TV and a web player), a content management panel and a subscription backend. Behind the scenes, videos are encoded into several resolutions, encrypted with DRM, delivered through a CDN, and the resume-where-you-left-off position is synced across every device. Subtitles, dubbing tracks and age-rating labels are part of the content operation too.
How BluTV works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Viewer apps
Apps on phone, tablet, Smart TV and web where subscribers discover content, watch it and manage their lists.
Content management panel
The panel where editors manage series, seasons, episodes, cover art, subtitles and the release calendar.
Admin and reporting panel
An internal panel for tracking subscriptions, promo codes, viewing statistics and support requests.
Critical features of a product like BluTV
Adaptive video streaming
With HLS/DASH, quality switches automatically to match the connection speed, so playback keeps going without freezing even on a weak network.
DRM and content protection
Licensed content is encrypted with Widevine, FairPlay and PlayReady, and screen recording and unauthorised downloads are made harder.
Multiple profiles and parental controls
One subscription can hold several profiles, and a kids' profile shows only content suited to its age rating.
Cross-device resume
The viewing position is saved to the second, so an episode left half-watched on a phone reopens at the same scene on the TV.
Concurrent stream limit
The number of devices that can watch at the same time is controlled by plan type, which limits account sharing.
Release calendar and episode alerts
New episodes go live automatically at the scheduled time, and followers receive a notification.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- iOS, Android and web player
- Series, season and episode catalogue with search
- Monthly and annual subscriptions via Stripe or in-store purchase
- DRM-protected HLS/DASH streaming
- Resume playback and a watchlist
Later releases
- Smart TV and Apple TV apps
- Offline downloads
- A personalised recommendation engine
- A cheaper ad-supported plan
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 30 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 198 person-days for the full scope and 130 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Subscriptions and recurring billing | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| Product / content catalogue | First version |
| Advanced search and filters | First version |
| Video / voice calls | First version |
| Push notifications | First version |
| Content management / blog | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Reporting and analytics | Later release |
| GDPR and security hardening | First version |
| Multi-language | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €650 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Streaming cost and scale
On the night a popular series premieres, traffic multiplies; CDN and encoding costs can blow the budget if they are not planned carefully.
Device diversity
Every Smart TV brand has its own operating system and player limitations, so the test matrix is very wide.
Content licensing and regulation
Region and time restrictions on licensed content must be enforced in the system, and local broadcasting and online-video licensing rules in each target market must be taken into account.
Business model
The core model is a monthly or annual SVOD subscription; an annual discount plus student and family plans increase loyalty. Bulk subscription sales through mobile operators and banks are a strong local channel. Later, a cheaper ad-supported plan and single-title rentals add revenue diversity.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like BluTV
Most people searching “build an app like blutv” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the BluTV name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an app like BluTV?
A first version covering mobile, a web player, DRM and subscriptions usually takes a few months. Smart TV apps and the recommendation engine are added in later phases.
How many separate apps are needed?
At least iOS, Android and a web player, plus a content management panel. If TV viewing matters, plan separate clients for Android TV, Tizen, webOS and Apple TV.
Are there copyright or trademark issues?
The subscription streaming business model and its features are generally free to use, but the name, logo, design, content and code cannot be copied. Every film and series you publish also needs a licence from its rights holder; this information is not legal advice.
What should I look for when choosing a company to build an app like BluTV?
Look for real experience in video encoding, DRM integration and CDN cost optimisation. Ask how they run load tests and what experience they have shipping on Smart TV platforms.
