LMT Viedtelevīzija
From a closed STB device to an open OTT ecosystem
Mitigate has been the technology partner of LMT Viedtelevīzija throughout its evolution - from a closed LMT ecosystem to a modern multi-platform streaming service that is today one of the leading ones in Latvia.
Android TViOSAndroidTizenWebOSReact
Challenge
LMT Viedtelevīzija started out as a closed ecosystem - available only through LMT set-top box decoders and a fixed LMT connection. As viewing habits changed, the platform had to be “opened up” and moved to an OTT model.
The main challenge was to rebuild the architecture so that content would be available regardless of the internet provider and device: Android TV, smartphones and, later, Smart TVs. At the same time, the work had to be coordinated with the LMT team, which was developing the web version of the platform.
Solution
Mitigate took on the development of the TV and mobile apps in three phases:
Closed platform development
An app for the Android TV Skipper box - a closed system with the highest streaming quality on the LMT network.
OTT rollout and system rebuild
The platform was opened to any Android TV device, and Android and iOS apps were developed.
Under the hood - a fully rebuilt API and content management; the UI was refreshed minimally, aligning the TV and mobile platforms.
Entering the Smart TV market
Apps for Samsung Tizen and LG WebOS TVs. LMT continued to develop the web version in-house.
Technologies
To achieve the highest product quality and performance, we chose to combine native development with modern web frameworks, tailoring the technology to the specifics of each platform:
Native development
For the original Skipper box, all Android TV models, and the iOS and Android mobile apps, we used a fully native development approach. This made the most efficient use of device resources, ensuring fast performance, smooth animations and reliable video playback.
React framework for Smart TV
For Samsung Tizen and LG WebOS TVs we chose a largely shared code base built on the React framework. This approach let us significantly speed up development for these specific TV operating systems and simplify ongoing maintenance of the platform without sacrificing app performance.
Result
Together with LMT, we successfully transformed a local, hardware-bound solution into a modern, open OTT smart TV platform used today by thousands of viewers across Latvia.
The architecture and API rebuild created a scalable ecosystem, while native development and the React approach for Smart TV deliver a fast, consistent experience on every screen - complementing the LMT team's work on the web platform.
