Delivered a Scalable Mobile Solution for TimCast’s News and Video Content
Timcast Media is a leading digital media company specializing in podcasts, live streaming, and news coverage on cultural and political topics. With a growing audience, Timcast sought to expand its digital presence by developing a mobile application that would enhance user experience, drive engagement, and provide seamless access to its content ecosystem.
28% increase in user engagement time
5k+ downloads in a week
23% increase in user retention
New Jersey, US
Sep 2022 - Jan 2024
Media & Entertainment
Services Used
“Working with this team was a great experience. They took the time to understand our needs and delivered a mobile app that truly enhanced how our audience engages with our content. Their responsiveness, technical expertise, and commitment to getting things right made the process smooth and enjoyable.”
Chief Executive Officer, Timcast Media
The Challenge
TimCast Media lacked a dedicated mobile platform, making it difficult for users to access content conveniently and interact with exclusive member features. This led to several challenges, including:
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Fragmented Content Consumption
Users had to rely on web browsers to read articles and watch videos, leading to an inconsistent experience across devices. Without a mobile-friendly interface, navigation was cumbersome, and engagement suffered.
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Poor Video Playback Experience
The absence of a dedicated video player limited users' ability to watch embedded content smoothly, especially from platforms like YouTube and Rumble. Additionally, the lack of background play and picture-in-picture (PiP) mode restricted multitasking capabilities.
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Inefficient Access to Exclusive Content
TimCast offers member-only content, but without a secure, seamless login system, users faced accessibility issues, leading to frustration and lower retention rates. Managing exclusive content across platforms lacked efficiency.
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Complicated Guest Sign-In for Interviews
Interview guests struggled with manual login processes, making it difficult to authenticate and join discussions smoothly. The lack of a dedicated sign-in system created delays and disruptions in live and recorded content.
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Cross-Platform Performance and Optimization
Developing a mobile app for both iOS and Android required ensuring consistent performance, smooth navigation, and seamless content delivery across different devices. Variations in screen sizes, operating systems, and hardware capabilities posed challenges in maintaining optimal speed, stability, and user experience without compromising functionality.
The Solution
To address these challenges, we conducted a technical discovery and proof of concept (PoC) to validate video player compatibility, authentication workflows, and performance optimization before full-scale development.
Get the full case studyAdvanced Video Playback with Background Play & PiP Mode
To ensure a smooth and engaging video experience, we integrated the YouTube API and Rumble API for seamless embedded video streaming within the app. We developed background play functionality, allowing users to listen to content while using other apps, ensuring uninterrupted engagement. Additionally, we implemented picture-in-picture (PiP) mode using ExoPlayer for Android and AVPlayer for iOS, enabling users to continue watching videos in a floating window while multitasking.
Optimized News & Video Browsing Experience
We built a custom content feed, allowing users to easily navigate between articles and video content without interruption. In-app video browsing was optimized to ensure uninterrupted playback while users explored additional media. Additionally, we integrated dynamic content updates, enabling real-time refreshes of news and media to keep content up to date.
Secure Authentication & Exclusive Content Access
We implemented a simple authentication system using TimCast’s existing user authentication framework, ensuring seamless access for registered users. This allowed members to log in securely and access exclusive content without requiring additional authentication layers. The authentication system was optimized for quick login and minimal friction, ensuring a smooth user experience across both iOS and Android platforms.
Streamlined Guest Sign-In for Interviews
To simplify guest participation in live interviews, we developed a guest login portal, allowing participants to securely join sessions without requiring full account registration. We implemented temporary session-based authentication, ensuring security while minimizing login friction. The guest experience was optimized for mobile devices, ensuring smooth participation across various screen sizes and platforms.
The Results
increase in user engagement
downloads within the first week
increase in user retention
reduction in video playback interruptions
Technology Stack
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Sales and general inquires
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+1 (703) 940-1971“Code District successfully launched our application on time. The team worked hard, adjusted to our schedule, and ensured our requests were turned around very quickly. They asked the right questions, used sound judgment, and made consistent progress, demonstrating strong technical skills and a driven attitude.”
