Guest post by Rachel Valentine.
Mobile apps used to be limited only to certain businesses, but they’re use has grown exponentially. Virtually every industry is using mobile apps, including the media and entertainment industry.
Mobile app development has revolutionised the media and entertainment industry. Users can get anything from a news alert to a live baseball score to a review of a movie minutes after it premiers, all covered by the realm of mobile apps.
The impact of mobile apps in the entertainment and media industry
How have mobile apps development made a splash in media and entertainment? Here are some of the ways:
Tracking trends
Perhaps the most noticeable way mobile apps are changing entertainment is through trend tracking. Before social media, tracking trends was more challenging. Now, there are new trends every day – some even influencing the entertainment world in kind, as we saw with the #Barbieheimer memes based on the same-weekend release for two very different films.
The latest movies, music, games, and series stay at the top of the trending sections of apps to draw more attention from users. There’s no longer a restriction on entertainment kept in certain time slots and behind closed doors. Anyone can access information anywhere, at any time.
Disseminating information
From social media applications to entertainment- or news specific apps, information is spreading farther and faster than ever. You can find information on just about anything on these apps, whether you want to read the latest news stories, watch a review of a product or movie on YouTube, or see the early reactions to a video game via tweets.
Opportunities for amateurs
Creating new videos, music, or games used to be the realm of professionals. They were the only ones with access to these products, but the widespread availability and use of mobile apps gives everyone a chance to showcase their talents.
Promotion capabilities
A mobile app can be a great way to promote an entertainment agency or influencers looking to make it big. Most people look for information on their smartphones, leading to higher engagement with apps and app content.
Increased access to content
The entertainment and media industry has become more accessible to the masses because of mobile apps. With just a few clicks, users can access an incredible volume of music, movies, television shows, news stories, and other media on their smartphones, tablets, or smart televisions.
In the past, premium content used to be available to cable or satellite TV subscribers. Now, users can check out a movie while it’s still in theatres if it’s available on a streaming app or get a personalised, curated playlist from an app on their phone to listen on the go.
More personalised experiences
Access is one thing, but the ability to get a personalised experience from using an app was the game changer for the industry. Using data-driven insights, mobile apps can provide the most tailored experiences for regular app users and offer content recommendations that improve loyalty.
For example, major streaming apps like Hulu, Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV+ make constant recommendations for similar content based on viewing history. They also pick up where the user left off with a series or movie, maintain lists of already-watched and watchlist movies and series, and track trending content.
Introduction to new business models
Subscription-based and integrated streaming services were a major disruption to traditional broadcasting like cable TV, leading to a massive industry shift. More companies got in on the action, offering more and more streaming apps that required a subscription to access exclusive content with big-name stars.
They also have distribution deals that limit certain programming from anything other than specific apps, such as the Yankees Entertainment Network and the games that are streamed on the YES Network, Apple TV+, and Prime Video at different times. Doing so practically guarantees that users will spring for the subscription to avoid missing the content they want most.
Innovative features
Mobile app development reached new heights with the advancement of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. New immersive experiences that bring the user into the world of music, movies, and games promote better loyalty, engagement, and connection.
For example, Netflix has the “Watch with Friends” feature that allows users to watch their favourite movies and TV shows simultaneously in the virtual space. This was especially helpful during the pandemic with social distancing.
Entertainment gamification
With entertainment gamification, mobile app development makes popular entertainment content more interactive and immersive. For example, a game like HQ Trivia or QuizUp allows users to compete against each other in more engaging ways.
Another example is FastQuips, a game that relies on a screen app and smartphone apps. Players write answers to prompts on their phones and submit them, which appear on the screen for all to see and participate in the gameplay on a lively game night.
Mobile app advertising
Apps have incredible monetisation opportunities. Mobile game advertising is an effective way to attract users and connect with them on their devices with in-game ads that are integrated into gameplay for less disruption.
The ads are also tailored and relevant based on user data, ensuring higher conversion rates. Advertisers can target specific demographics, age groups, genders, and interests. A CX agency or advertising firm can be a valuable tool in designing ads that are both noninvasive and compelling to keep app engagement high.
The future of mobile app development trends in media and entertainment
The media and entertainment industry is undergoing a seismic shift, due in part to custom app development and innovations like streaming services, gamification, and AR/VR features. These new trends create opportunities for both developers and brands to reach their audience where they want to be – through mobile app development.
About the author
Rachel Valentine is General Manager and Head of People Operations at Vincit US. She was integral to Vincit’s expansion in the Orange County, California and Arizona markets. During her time, Vincit has been recognised by Fast Company as a Best Workplace for Innovators 2020, and by Inc. Magazine as a Best Workplace in 2019. Vincit has also received workplace and culture-focused awards from Orange County Business Journal, Orange County Register, Tech in Motion and more.
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