CBS News - Live Breaking News

Review by eFreeware

Keeping up with breaking news usually means juggling a browser, a cable login and a handful of bookmarks. A single app that carries both a rolling live feed and the network's own reporting can close that gap, at least for one broadcaster's output.

This is the official news app from CBS. It comes from CBS Interactive, Inc., sits in the News & Magazines category on Google Play, and has been available since October 2016. The pitch is simple: CBS News 24/7 streams live, no cable needed.

Who the app fits

The clearest audience is people who already trust CBS as a news source and want that reporting in one place on a phone or tablet. If you follow the network's anchors and correspondents, this app is the direct route to them, and the live stream means you can catch coverage as it happens rather than waiting for a write-up.

It also suits viewers who want the network's longer-form work without hunting through a streaming service. Full episodes and clips from 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, CBS Saturday Morning, CBS Sunday Morning and Face the Nation are all part of the package, which is a lot of appointment viewing gathered under one icon.

A third group is business readers. MoneyWatch supplies the latest business stories and analysis, so someone who wants market and company news alongside general coverage does not have to open a separate app for it. The documentaries round this out for viewers who prefer a deeper treatment of a single subject over a stream of headlines.

What ties these groups together is the absence of a cable requirement. The live stream is billed as available without a cable subscription, which matters to anyone who has cut the cord but still wants anchored coverage rather than a bare feed.

Live coverage as it happens

A live stream runs around the clock with anchored coverage. That format is what makes the app useful on a day when a story is still moving: instead of refreshing an article, you watch the network's coverage as it develops.

The developer says the stream also covers press briefings and public hearings on big issues. For anyone who wants to hear official statements in full rather than in excerpts, that is the most valuable part of the offering, since these events are exactly the kind of thing that gets trimmed down in written coverage.

Because the stream runs continuously, it works as background viewing as much as active watching. I would expect it to suit someone who wants the news on while doing something else and to look up when a segment catches their attention.

Episodes, clips and documentaries

The app carries full episodes and on-demand clips from the network's flagship programs, and Face the Nation adds the Sunday political interview format.

Having full episodes alongside clips is the part I find most useful in principle. Clips are good for a quick look at one segment; full episodes are what you want when a story deserves the whole hour, and the app is set up to serve both.

Documentaries are part of the mix, covering subjects in the wider news conversation. That is a different register from daily news, and it gives the app a reason to be opened on a quiet evening rather than only during a breaking story.

What it costs and what comes with it

The app is free to download and has no in-app purchases. That is a simple arrangement.

It does contain ads. It is worth weighing against a paid news service if you dislike interruptions.

One thing to know before installing: the app includes Nielsen's measurement software, which the developer says allows you to contribute to market research such as Nielsen's TV ratings. If you would rather not take part in that kind of measurement, this is the detail to check before you commit.

The app carries an Everyone content rating, and the most recent update listed is performance improvements, so the developer is still shipping maintenance releases.

How it compares with other options

The obvious alternative is a general streaming service that bundles live channels. If your interest is one network's news output rather than a broad channel lineup, the narrower app is the more direct route.

Another option is a newspaper or wire service app. Those are stronger for reading and searchable archives, while this one is built around watching: a live stream, episodes and documentaries. The two formats suit different moments, and plenty of people will want both.

A dedicated podcast or audio app is a third comparison. Audio is convenient when a screen is not, but it cannot carry a news conference or a documentary the way video does. The choice comes down to whether you want to watch the coverage or just hear about it.

Finally, there is the network's own website. A browser can reach the same reporting, but an app is the more comfortable way to watch on a phone, and it keeps the live stream and the episode catalog in one place.

A straightforward pick for CBS viewers

CBS News does one job: it puts the network's live coverage, its flagship programs and its documentaries in a single free app. The 24/7 stream with anchored reporting and full news conferences is the strongest argument for installing it, and the episode library gives it value on slower news days.

It is a single network's output, so anyone wanting a broad view across many outlets will find it narrow. The Nielsen measurement software is also worth knowing about up front.

I would suggest it to people who already watch CBS News and want that coverage on their phone without a cable login, and to viewers who follow 60 Minutes, Face the Nation or the morning and evening broadcasts and would rather not chase episodes across services. With over a million installs and a 3.9 average from 1,219 ratings, it has a substantial audience, though the rating suggests not every viewer is entirely satisfied.

If your news habit centers on CBS, this is a sensible install. If you need coverage from many sources in one place, a general news aggregator will serve you better.

What's new in version 8.5.0-1778611338

Performance improvements