SlingTV

Platforms: Web, Smart TV, iOS, Android

Disciplines: Research, UX / UI, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Testing

Overview

SlingTV has been in the highly competitive online streaming industry since their service first launched in 2015. Since then, a number of competitors have risen up offering advanced user experiences and channel lineups at reasonable prices compared to cable tv, with YouTube and Hulu leading the market. In regards to online reviews, SlingTV is not considered as a market leader, yet rather a cheaper alternative to the top two leaders.

latest news

Problem

In Q4 of 2019, Disney plus, Netflix, Hulu, and YouTubeTV have all significantly increased customers.

SlingTV is the only major streaming service provider to lose customers in Q4 of 2019. Meanwhile cable companies like Comcast, Dish Network, and DirecTV have experienced significant revenue losses. Sling’s current design leads consumers to believe that you are getting a lesser user experience in order to save money on your streaming services in comparison to market leaders like YouTubeTV, Hulu, and Netflix.

Source: (fierce wireless)

Solution

A brand new user experience that subconsciously places Sling’s brand perspective into the same category as top competitors such as Hulu and YouTubeTV, giving Sling a new position as a leader in online streaming experiences with the same lower cost pricing model. The new experience would include user customization features that improve browsing experience and suggested content, the ability to record shows included in all base packages, a completely redesigned channel guide, plus the ability to pause, rewind, and fast forward live tv. We would essentially create an improved user experience that would better understand the user’s viewing preferences and display content that is the most relevant to them based on their customized preferences, viewing history, preferred channels, and demographic.

THE NEW SLINGTV!

Suggested Features

How will I solve this problem?

I would start by performing a considerable amount of research in order to understand the competitive landscape of the market. My research categories would include, a market analysis, competitive analysis, ux audit of the existing product, competitive ux audit, best in class audit, and out of category / process audits. I will then proceed to performing user surveys in order to better understand my persona’s likes / dislikes with their current streaming services as well as their pain points and desires.

Innovation Strategy

I will look for ways to innovate by uncovering user pain points that are not yet available as solutions in the market. The main pain points that I will look are are opportunities to create new customization features so that the user feels more comfortable with the viewing experience. Ways to improve the content suggestion algorithm can be implemented using ai and machine learning models.

I will have to audit every part of the interface in order to optimize every detail that will make it comparable to YouTubeTV, Hulu, and Netflix, and uncover opportunities to even surpass their user experience. Much of the innovation strategy will take place in the channel guide where I will look for opportunities to reinvent and modernize this feature, so that users can see live content from all channels, favorite channels, kids channels, and suggested content based on our new algorithm and ai.

My Contribution

Branding / Logo Redesign
UX Research
Product Strategy

UX / UI
User Testing

My Design Process

My Contribution

I met a few avid tv watchers who gave me great insughts about their viewing experiences with several streaming services. I used ths information to create a few personas that help better define who I ws designing for.

Maui

Age: 41

Single, Male

Maui owns a promotional products business in which he is constantly on the road visiting his clients. At the end of the work day, he likes to unwind by watching at least 3-4 hours of television in his hotel room. When he’s not working, he can spend the majority of the day watching tv. He will occasionally stream content on his mobile device while taking a flight or riding a train to his next destination. He enjoys watching content on multiple devices including casting streams to his smart tv.