NextUp
Watch shows, not platforms
Product Experience
Problem Space
Problem Statement
How might we help consumers track the shows and movies they want to watch & save to their list more easily so that it’s less confusing, time consuming and manual?
Problem Background
Globally, there are more than 200 streaming services available for consumers to watch TV and movies at their leisure. In the US alone there are well over 75.
When many Millenial and GenX customers sit down to watch TV, most don’t say “I want to watch Amazon Prime” or “I want to watch Paramount+”. They say “I wanna watch The Ultimatum: Queer Edition” or “I wanna watch Succession”. When a new show or movie comes out, many people add it to their watchlist. Given that our target customers have multiple subscriptions to multiple streaming providers/platforms and want to watch a lot of shows/movies. But as more shows come out on more platforms, consumers often forget they wanted to watch a show or movie. And with so many options that are constantly evolving, they have a hard time remembering that they even wanted to watch a show or let alone keeping track of which show or movie on which platform. What Discovery+ is now, what HBO is now called or is Showtime part of something else now? Each platform has its own watchlist but that’s not helpful when you just want to watch the SHOW about the guy with the thing that you added to your list but can’t remember WHERE. Consumers want to find and watch the show, not the platform.
According to Forbes, 78% of all U.S. households subscribe to at least one or more streaming services. According to our survey, target consumers with multiple providers have an average of 6 content providers with some consumers reporting 11+ providers. With new releases happening so often on each of the platforms, there is frustration with having so much content and so many apps to track.
It would be great to have one streaming service for all— a lot to keep track of with all platforms
Too much to watch, I get decision fatigue.
It can get overwhelming. So much content that I don’t always know where to start.
Research Insights
User Pain Points
Using a Google Forms online survey through Instagram and LinkedIn posts, we survey 85 respondents about their watching habits. Respondents have an average of 6 streaming subscriptions with some reporting as many as 11. 70% keep track of shows they want to watch.Respondents report frustration with having so many apps to keep track of.
Supporting Data
55% use the list option provided by the streamer.
44% use the notes app on their phone to keep track of what they want to watch.
While 48% say they add to their list every month, 17% say they add every week.
Feedback
Respondents feel overwhelmed by media and really want a solution to help streamline the apps and their watching experience.
Watch Your Shows, Not the Platforms
Landing on the Solution
Knowing that adding shows on individual platforms can be useful, we thought that it could be easier and kept in one place rather than 6-11 or having the consumer manually keep a list on their phone. A product that makes it easy to track shows and movies that a consumer wants to watch across platforms.This product would compile lists from each platform/provider into one easy location so users don’t have to toggle between lists on individual apps or endlessly search to remember which show was on which network before they get to watch it. The product would make it easier to just watch a show/movie that the consumer had been wanting to watch.
Explanation of Solution
We propose creating an app that can pull watchlists from all of the platform subscriptions so that users can just look in one place rather than having to look at their list on Netflix, their list on Amazon Prime, their list on Max and their list on Hulu. Making it easier to watch shows and movies that they’ve been meaning to watch, rather than forgetting entirely.
Future Steps
- A desire to have a TV Guide like way to know when new episodes are scheduled to drop for shows currently or previously watched
- A way to merge watch behaviors across platforms and then make recommendations based on activity across the board - rather than just one provider.
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Keylor Leigh
I absolutely struggled to stay in the problem space and really had started in the solution space and tried to work backwards.
Keeping the problem very specific also proved a challenge as I wanted to expand on the solution before even narrowing down the problem itself.
Survey research had several gaps that would have been more insightful and helpful.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.