UKTV Play rolls out mobile app update
David Farnor | On 14, Feb 2017
UKTV Play is rolling out a major revamp for its mobile app.
The app gives on-demand access on the move to channels and shows from Britain’s biggest multi-channel broadcaster. The service boasts a vast and diverse catalogue, including UKTV Originals such as Taskmaster, Red Dwarf XI and Crackanory.
It’s enjoyed rapid growth in recent years. In 2016, downloads surged 98 per cent compard to 2015, contributing to significant growth in UKTV’s streaming arm. Latest data shows UKTV Play achieved a 74 per cent increase in direct-to-consumer views year-on-year in 2016. UKTV Originals perform particularly well on the service: in 2016 there was 179 per cent growth in direct-to-consumer streams of originals compared to 2015. The first-episode preview of Dave’s hotly-anticipated Red Dwarf XI brought record-breaking viewer numbers into UKTV Play last year.
To build on that growth, UKTV Play has been improving all parts of its platform in the last few months. Recently, the VOD service upgraded its desktop site, contributing to a sharp, 50 per cent increase in views. The broadcaster carried out rigorous A/B testing on the new design to ensure it offered the best possible user experience.
Now, it’s bringing that same improvement to user interface and viewer experience to its iOS and Android apps,
The significantly revamped product, which is available to download on mobile devices for free, now features a more focused approach to finding favourite programmes through a better organised landing page, higher-quality programme images and the introduction of easy-to-view genre listings. There’s an extended selection of box sets to boot.
UKTV’s Head of Digital Products, Oliver Davies, says: “The new, streamlined interface has been designed so viewers can find something great to watch in seconds. The uktvplay.co.uk desktop site update has been brilliantly received by our users, helping to drive a significant increase in views, so we’re delighted to be rolling it out onto our iOS and Android mobile apps. The new-look app has a premium feel that mirrors the quality of our content.”
UKTV Play has been shortlisted for Best Digital Video Platform/Service in the Broadcast Digital Awards for the past two years, alongside All 4, BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub.