diff --git a/android/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/exoplayer/VideoPlaybackService.kt b/android/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/exoplayer/VideoPlaybackService.kt
index b60df6fa..4760ea5b 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/exoplayer/VideoPlaybackService.kt
+++ b/android/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/exoplayer/VideoPlaybackService.kt
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import androidx.media3.session.MediaSessionService
 import androidx.media3.session.MediaStyleNotificationHelper
 import androidx.media3.session.SessionCommand
 import com.brentvatne.common.toolbox.DebugLog
+import com.brentvatne.react.R
 import okhttp3.internal.immutableListOf
 
 class PlaybackServiceBinder(val service: VideoPlaybackService) : Binder()
@@ -63,7 +64,9 @@ class VideoPlaybackService : MediaSessionService() {
 
         mediaSessionsList[player] = mediaSession
         addSession(mediaSession)
-        startForeground(mediaSession.player.hashCode(), buildNotification(mediaSession))
+
+        val notificationId = player.hashCode()
+        startForeground(notificationId, buildNotification(mediaSession))
     }
 
     fun unregisterPlayer(player: ExoPlayer) {
@@ -224,7 +227,30 @@ class VideoPlaybackService : MediaSessionService() {
         mediaSessionsList.clear()
     }
 
+    private fun createPlaceholderNotification(): Notification {
+        val notificationManager = getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE) as NotificationManager
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+            notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(
+                NotificationChannel(
+                    NOTIFICATION_CHANEL_ID,
+                    NOTIFICATION_CHANEL_ID,
+                    NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW
+                )
+            )
+        }
+
+        return NotificationCompat.Builder(this, NOTIFICATION_CHANEL_ID)
+            .setSmallIcon(androidx.media3.session.R.drawable.media3_icon_circular_play)
+            .setContentTitle(getString(R.string.media_playback_notification_title))
+            .setContentText(getString(R.string.media_playback_notification_text))
+            .build()
+    }
+
     override fun onStartCommand(intent: Intent?, flags: Int, startId: Int): Int {
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+            startForeground(PLACEHOLDER_NOTIFICATION_ID, createPlaceholderNotification())
+        }
+
         intent?.let {
             val playerId = it.getIntExtra("PLAYER_ID", -1)
             val actionCommand = it.getStringExtra("ACTION")
@@ -249,6 +275,7 @@ class VideoPlaybackService : MediaSessionService() {
     companion object {
         private const val SEEK_INTERVAL_MS = 10000L
         private const val TAG = "VideoPlaybackService"
+        private const val PLACEHOLDER_NOTIFICATION_ID = 9999
 
         const val NOTIFICATION_CHANEL_ID = "RNVIDEO_SESSION_NOTIFICATION"
 
diff --git a/android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index a4c134f0..18f0e907 100644
--- a/android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -22,4 +22,8 @@
   <string name="playback_speed">Playback Speed</string>
 
   <string name="select_playback_speed">Select Playback Speed</string>
+
+  <string name="media_playback_notification_title">Media playback</string>
+
+  <string name="media_playback_notification_text">Preparing playback</string>
 </resources>