Online cinemas

The market for OTT services continues to grow, but with it the competition for the attention of the viewer grows. For online cinemas, access to new screens and new audiences becomes a critical development factor. The technical limitations of platforms, the complexity of integration with operators and the high cost of development for each device are barriers that inhibit expansion.

Microimpulses offers online cinemas two scenarios of interaction with the platform Smartyeach of them solves specific business problems and opens access to new points of presence.

The first way is to use Smarty as a ready-made technology platform to launch your own application on platforms that the online cinema has not yet mastered.

Smarty provides client applications for all modern set-top boxes and Smart TVs. This means that the theater does not need to develop an app from scratch for every operating system and every device model. It is enough to adapt the configuration of the platform to your brand, download content and metadata - and the service is ready to work.

How it works:

This approach is especially relevant for theaters that want to be present on Smart TVs and set-top boxes, but do not have the resources to develop and support their own applications for each platform.

The second scenario is deeper and more technological. It involves the integration of online cinema content into the Smarty ecosystem for subsequent distribution through telecom operators.

Microimpuls supports full API integration with cinemas. This is not just placing a link to a third-party service, but embedding content directly into Smarty client applications used by carrier subscribers.

Display content within Smarty apps. Movies and series of the cinema appear in the general catalog of the platform, with each element marked with the nameplate of the cinema. The viewer sees that the content is provided by a specific partner, which preserves brand awareness.

Subscription synchronization. One of the key elements of integration is end-to-end synchronization of subscription statuses between three systems: Smarty platform, operator billing and cinema accounting system. This ensures that access to content is provided strictly in accordance with the paid rate, and all status changes (renewal, suspension, cancellation) are reflected instantly on all parties.

Transparent calculations. Thanks to full data synchronization, the operator, platform and cinema operate with a single picture of sales and views. This eliminates discrepancies in the formation of reporting and makes mutual calculations as transparent as possible.

Viewing statistics. Smarty apps send viewing data towards the cinema. The copyright holder receives objective information about how its content is consumed - on which devices, at what time, with what depth of inspection. This data is necessary both for monitoring the execution of license agreements and for product analytics.

Both proposed scenarios solve the main task of the online cinema – to increase coverage and accessibility for viewers.

In the first case, the theater gets its own app on all significant TV platforms without the multimillion-dollar development costs. In the second, it enters the subscriber base of telecom operators through the already operating Smarty infrastructure, while maintaining full control over content, pricing and analytics.

Scenarios can be used separately or in combination, depending on the development strategy of a particular service.

Microimpuls is open to cooperation with online cinemas interested in expanding distribution on TV devices and entering the operator market.

To discuss the details, fill in the feedback form below – our managers will provide demo access to the platform, show examples of working integrations with theaters and help you choose the optimal interaction model.