Apple TV App Development
Apple TV reaches a high-value, high-ARPU audience, and its apps are built natively in Swift on tvOS — with AVPlayer for playback, FairPlay for DRM, and App Store review that's stricter than any other TV platform, especially around in-app purchase. A great tvOS app also has to nail the focus-engine navigation and the Top Shelf experience that make Apple TV feel premium.
Apexnova builds native Apple TV apps in Swift/tvOS — AVPlayer playback, FairPlay DRM, App Store in-app purchase or your own billing, and Top Shelf and Siri integration — as part of an OTT platform delivered production-ready in 30 days and shipped through App Store review.
What a production Apple TV app actually needs
Native Swift on tvOS. Built with the tvOS SDK, AVKit/AVPlayer, and the focus engine — so navigation feels native and playback is rock-solid. We build native, not a wrapped web app that Apple would reject.
FairPlay Streaming DRM. Apple's FairPlay is required for protected content on Apple devices. We integrate it correctly alongside Widevine/PlayReady on other platforms from the same backend.
App Store review and IAP compliance. Apple's review is the strictest in streaming, especially on in-app purchase rules. We build to those requirements and manage submission so your app clears review.
Top Shelf, Siri, and the premium experience. Top Shelf featured content, Siri remote and voice, and the polished 10-foot UI Apple TV viewers expect.
One platform, every screen
Apple TV is one screen in a platform that spans web, mobile, and every connected TV. We build the shared backend, catalog, and entitlements once, then ship native apps per device.
| Platform | Built natively | Shared backend |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV | Swift / tvOS | Yes |
| Roku | BrightScript / SceneGraph | Yes |
| Fire TV | Fire OS / Vega OS | Yes |
| Android TV | Android / Kotlin | Yes |
| Samsung / LG | Tizen / webOS | Yes |
What you get
A native, App-Store-ready Apple TV app — Swift/tvOS with AVPlayer, FairPlay DRM, App Store IAP or custom billing, Top Shelf and Siri integration, and shared backend and analytics with the rest of your platform. Delivered in 30 days as part of your OTT build.
Frequently asked questions
How are Apple TV apps built?
Apple TV apps are built natively in Swift on tvOS, using AVPlayer for playback and FairPlay for DRM. They must pass Apple's App Store review, which is the strictest of any TV platform, especially on in-app purchase. Apexnova builds native Apple TV apps as part of an OTT platform delivered in 30 days.
Do I need FairPlay DRM for Apple TV?
Yes, protected content on Apple devices requires FairPlay Streaming DRM. We integrate FairPlay for Apple TV alongside Widevine and PlayReady for other platforms, all driven from the same backend.
How do I handle in-app purchases and Apple's review rules?
Apple enforces specific in-app purchase rules that are a common cause of rejection. We build subscriptions and transactions to comply with Apple's requirements, or connect your own billing where allowed, and manage submission so your app clears review.
Can the Apple TV app share a backend with my other apps?
Yes. We build the catalog, entitlements, and analytics backend once and connect native apps for Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung, LG, web, and mobile to it, so everything stays in sync.
Ship your Apple TV app
Tell us your catalog, monetization model, and which other devices you need, and we'll return a fixed-scope quote with a 30-day plan — a native Apple TV app plus the platform behind it.