Minnow is a new app that wants to serve as a Spotify for streaming video by providing users with unified search, aggregation and customized content playlists.
The app launched this week, and is available on Android and iOS devices; Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google Chromecast. Versions are launching soon for Roku, the web and other smart TVs. The app supports video services including Netflix, HBO Now, Hulu, Amazon Prime and others. Minnow said it will add support for Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock and Quibi as soon as they launch in the U.S.
Jes Bickhart, CEO and founder of Minnow, said the app was built to alleviate the stress of searching for and discovering content across all the different streaming video platforms.
"People already aggregate their music on Spotify, airlines on services like Kayak and Skyscanner, and images on Pinterest, so why do we still browse content offerings platform-by-platform for movies and series? The average person in America still spends well over 23 minutes every day just scrolling looking for something to watch,” said Bickhart in a statement. “There has to be a better way to help people find a movie or series simply and on any device. That's where Minnow comes in.”
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The service that Minnow is providing is not entirely unlike what platforms like Amazon Channels, the Roku Channel and Apple TV Channels provide. But Minnow doesn’t allow users to sign up directly for services.
When users sign up for Minnow (which requires providing an email but no other credentials), they’re instructed to select which video services they subscribe to from a list. From there, users are presented with trends films, series and playlists – which have been assembled by Minnow’s editorial team and by featured critics. When users find a piece of content they want, Minnow redirects them to the proper app or service for watching it.
Minnow will also allow viewers to search, share and recommend movies, series and episodes with friends and link to the streaming content instead of looking for the source.