Building native Apple apps through BoxCast requires a BoxCast OTT App Subscription. View our plans and pricing here.
If you are interested in learning more and you are new to BoxCast, please contact sales@boxcast.com
If you are interested in learning more and you are a current BoxCast subscriber, please contact success@boxcast.com
1. Set Brand Color + Logo
If you have not done so already, log in to your BoxCast OTT Dashboard and navigate to your Brand & SEO page. Upload an image for your logo and then select a Brand Color.
2. Enroll as Member of Apple Developer Program
If you have not done so already, follow Apple's instructions for enrolling as an Apple Developer Program member. Ensure you choose the Account Holder role. Learn more from Apple about user roles.
As a supplementary resource, reference BoxCast's article Create an Apple Developer Account as needed.
3. Create Bundle ID
Apple's Bundle ID is a unique identifier for your app and is required before creating your app record.
3.1 Log in to your Apple Developer account, navigate to the Identifiers page and click the Register an App ID button.
3.2 Select App IDs and then click the Continue button.
3.3 Select App and then click the Continue button.
3.4 Populate the specified fields shown below and then click the Continue button.
A Description of your app is required. This serves as a name to help you easily distinguish between different apps you manage from your Apple Developer Account. As this isn't viewer-facing, BoxCast recommends entering something like BoxCast OTT.
The Bundle ID must be in a reverse-DNS format. An example would be something like com.YourOrganizationName.media. The Bundle ID is not case sensitive, and it may only comprise of alphanumeric characters, hyphens, and periods.
3.5 Click the Register button only after reviewing and confirming the details you entered in the step above.
4. Create App Record
Before uploading a build of your app, you must first create an app record in your App Store Connect account. The following instructions have been provided for additional clarity, but you may reference Apple's source documentation as needed to Create an App Record.
Skip this section if you have already created an app record which includes both the tvOS and iOS platforms (as the Bundle ID will be shared between both platforms).
4.1 Log in to App Store Connect using your Apple Account username and password.
4.2 Create a new app. From the Apps page, click the (+) button and then select New App.
4.3 Populate the specified fields shown below and then click the Create button.
Platforms - Select both iOS and tvOS. It is strongly recommended you select both, even if you don't initially plan to build the app for both platforms. For example, you may later decide to build the tvOS app well after your iOS app was built. This will save you time and complication.
Company Name - This is your developer name. The field will only appear if your Apple Developer Account has been enrolled as an Organization rather than an Individual. Learn more from Apple as needed.
Name - This is the official name of your app. Keep to a maximum of 30 characters.
Primary Language - Choose your app's primary language. Note that you will be required to make app selections for each language version.
Bundle ID - Click the dropdown menu and select the Bundle ID you created in your Apple Developer Account.
SKU - This is the product identifier for any in-app purchase product you manage. You may type just about anything. An example would be the name of your organization as a single string of text.
User Access - BoxCast recommends selecting Full Access.
Your app name and the the app listings (selected platforms from above) will now appear on the Apps > Distribution page of of your App Store Connect account.
5. Generate API Key
The following instructions have been provided for additional clarity, but you may reference Apple's source documentation as needed to create API Keys for App Store Connect API.
This section need only be completed once. Details cannot be changed following completion, so be certain to carefully review all information prior to submission. If submitted incorrectly, contact BoxCast Technical Support via questions@boxcast.com.
5.1 From your Apple Developer account, go to Users and Access > Integrations > App Store Connect API. Click the Request Access button.
5.2 Check the box indicated below and then click the Submit button.
5.3 While on the Team Keys tab, click the Generate API Key button.
5.4 Populate the Name and Access fields shown below and then click the Generate button.
Type a Name for your API key. The name is for reference only and isn’t part of the key itself. BoxCast actually recommends you name the key BoxCast OTT Access.
Click in the Access field and select Admin for the role, though, App Manager is a suitable option as well.
5.5 Download the API Key and keep safe, as this file can only be downloaded once. Remember where on your device the file has been saved. Losing the key file would require removal of the API Key and restarting the process from the beginning.
6. Build Your BoxCast OTT App
BoxCast suggests having three browser tabs open for this section - one with your BoxCast OTT dashboard, another with your App Store Connect account, and the third with your Apple Developer account.
6.1 From your OTT dashboard, navigate to the Distribution page and then click the Open Form button for either your iOS or tvOS app.
6.2 From your App Store Connect account go to Users and Access > Integrations > App Store Connect API > Team Keys, copy the Key ID created earlier, and then paste into the BoxCast OTT distribution field labeled Key ID.
6.3 Copy the Issuer ID and then paste into the BoxCast OTT distribution field labeled Issuer ID.
6.4 With the Key File generated earlier, drag and drop (or browse for and open) into the BoxCast OTT distribution field labeled Key File.
6.5 In your Apple Developer account, click Membership details.
Carefully highlight and copy the Team ID for pasting into the BoxCast OTT distribution field labeled Development Team ID.
6.6 Remaining in your Apple Developer account, go to the Identifiers page, highlight and copy your Bundle ID, and finally paste into the BoxCast OTT distribution field labeled Bundle ID. Click the Continue button in your BoxCast OTT distribution form.
6.7 Populate the name fields in your BoxCast OTT distribution form.
Full App Name - this is the official name of you app as registered in App Store Connect.
Display Name - this name appears under your app icon from the Apple TV home screen. While this can be the same as your Full App Name, a shortened name may be necessary due to spacing limitations on the different device platforms.
Click the Continue button.
6.8 Populate the image assets in your BoxCast OTT distribution form. As needed, reference Apple's image guidelines as well as BoxCast's Preparing TV App Visual Assets (AppleTV).
6.9 Click the Build button to submit a build of your app.
7. Submit Your App For Review
These next steps in preparing your app for Apple's review are done from your App Store Connect account. While a direct link to App Store Connect (shown below) will appear next to your app when the build process from above has been completed, you may also simply log in via appstoreconnect.apple.com.
7.1 In App Store Connect, navigate to the Distribution page as needed and click the app listing you're wishing to prepare for submission.
7.2 BoxCast OTT automatically takes multiple screenshots of your app during the build process and uploads them to App Store Connect for you. Apple requires at least one screenshot of the app to display in the App Store. Review these screenshots, and delete any that appear broken or are duplicates. If you don't see any screenshots, please contact BoxCast Technical Support via questions@boxcast.com.
Failure to delete poor screenshots (e.g. a loading screen) may result in Apple rejecting the app. If this happens, simply delete the bad screenshots and then resubmit for review.
7.3 Populate the specified fields shown below and then click the Save button.
Description - This is a description of your app for display in the App Store, which should inform users of what to expect when they download your app.
Keywords - These are keywords to guide users toward your app in the App Store.
Support URL - This is a URL for viewers to refer to when they need help using your Apple apps. DO NOT use a BoxCast URL. If your website doesn't have a dedicated support or contact page, the home page of your website should be sufficient. If you don't have a website, you will need to find some other third-party resource for generating a support URL.
Version - This should default to 1.0 if building your app for the first time.
Copyright - Your app’s copyright is the current year and your organization’s name. DO NOT use the following except as an example. 2025 BoxCast, Inc.
7.4 Complete the fields under App Review Information. Every app is reviewed by an Apple employee before publishing to the App Store.
Contact Information - Provide the requested contact details in case the Apple reviewer needs to reach you directly.
Sign-In Information - The Apple reviewer will need a viewer account in order to check signed-in functionality. Go to your BoxCast OTT web app and register as a viewer account with an email and password you do not use anywhere else.
7.5 Click on App Information as shown, followed by clicking the Set Up Age Ratings button. Step through each page of questions.
7.6 Click on App Privacy and Edit to provide the required information. If you do not have a privacy policy, there are third-party web resources which can generate these for you.
Privacy Policy URL - this is the link to your privacy policy. You may already have a website that has such a policy, and this would be the link to that page.
Apple TV Privacy Policy - this is your written privacy policy. Simply copy your policy and paste into this field.
7.7 You're almost finished! Click on the app listing you're ready to release, select one of the options under App Store Version Release, and then click the Add for Review button to submit for Apple's review.
You will receive an email of what needs resolved should Apple reject your app. If this occurs, follow Apple's directions and recommendations to the best of your ability before reaching out to BoxCast Technical Support via questions@boxcast.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
May I update my Brand Color and Logo at any time?
Yes