The app meets what the company says is the rapidly growing subscriber demand to watch content at any time on any device. It is designed to allow subscribers to watch content from the various M7 TV platforms at any time on any device. M7 has also introduced a dedicated app for smart TVs in partnership with Samsung, allowing viewers to access both linear and interactive services via a cmart TV, without the need for a set-top box. Support for other TV manufacturers will follow shortly.

As a result of the rapid uptake of hybrid TV viewing among its subscribers, M7 has revealed that its special interest channels targeting smaller viewing audiences are now primarily distributed via OTT. These include thematic Dutch channels NPO Zapp, NPO1 Extra, RTL Crime, RTL Lounge and AT5. OTT distribution also allows for the addition of new channels. Thus, NPO2 Extra, NPO3 Extra and NPO Nieuws will be added shortly to the company’s Canal Digitaal line-up.

OTT is now an essential part of M7’s hybrid TV offering, both for linear and on-demand content said Bill Wijdeveld, VP business development at M7 Group: “While the usage of hybrid set top-boxes and smart TVs is growing steadily, the take-up of the M7 TV app is impressive,” he remarked. “By July, the total number of users of the M7 TV app, available via Apple and Android devices.”