CBS News - Live Breaking News icon
CBS News - Live Breaking News: Comprehensive Review of Features and Performance

by CBS Interactive, Inc.

4.1
ANDROIDNews & Magazines
The CBS News app delivers live breaking news coverage with extensive local reporting from 14 major US markets. The Android application combines national news streams with localized content for comprehensive news consumption.

Detailed Review

The CBS News application serves as a digital extension of the CBS broadcasting network, providing users with access to live breaking news coverage from both national and local perspectives. The app positions itself as a comprehensive news solution for Android users seeking real-time updates from trusted journalistic sources across multiple geographic regions. The application's core functionality centers around its extensive local news coverage network, featuring content from 14 major metropolitan areas including Baltimore, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, and New York. Users can access live streams from local CBS affiliates such as WJZ News in Baltimore, CBS News Bay Area on KPIX San Francisco, and WBZ News in Boston. The app provides weather and sports coverage specific to each region, making it particularly valuable for users who require localized information alongside national news coverage. User experience varies significantly across different Android devices and versions. The interface follows standard news app conventions with categorized content sections and video streaming capabilities. However, performance issues have been reported on certain Android TV devices, particularly the ONN 4K Pro running Android TV OS version 12, where the app reportedly crashes immediately after opening according to user feedback from June 2024. The video player functionality has undergone improvements, though earlier versions faced criticism for limited playback controls. User feedback indicates ongoing technical challenges alongside recent improvements. Jack Leitner's June 2024 review documents persistent crashing issues on specific hardware, while Nat Ouellet's February 2025 update acknowledges significant improvements to the video player and contact form functionality. These reviews suggest that while stability issues persist for some users, the development team has addressed previous interface problems, particularly regarding video playback and customer support accessibility. The application demonstrates strength in content breadth and local reporting depth but faces challenges in technical stability across diverse Android environments. Ideal for users seeking comprehensive local news coverage from multiple markets, though device compatibility should be verified before reliance on critical news consumption. The balance between extensive content offerings and technical performance remains the primary consideration for potential users.

Key Features

  • Live local news streaming from 14 major US markets including Baltimore, San Francisco, and New York provides hyper-local coverage unavailable in national news apps
  • Integrated weather and sports reporting from local CBS affiliates delivers comprehensive regional information beyond basic news coverage
  • Breaking news alerts with customizable notification settings ensure users receive urgent updates without notification overload
  • Video content library featuring CBS News programs and special reports offers on-demand viewing of broadcast content
  • Multi-market content aggregation allows users to monitor news from multiple cities simultaneously for comprehensive coverage

Why Users Love It

Extensive local market coverage
Live streaming capability

Perfect for: Users seeking localized news from multiple major US markets

Screenshots

CBS News - Live Breaking News screenshot 1CBS News - Live Breaking News screenshot 2CBS News - Live Breaking News screenshot 3CBS News - Live Breaking News screenshot 4CBS News - Live Breaking News screenshot 5CBS News - Live Breaking News screenshot 6

Ranking History

Track CBS News - Live Breaking News's performance in News & Magazines over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#50

Best Rank

#42

All-time high

Average Rank

#45

30-day average

Questions & Answers

What's the best Android app for streaming live news broadcasts and getting breaking news alerts?

CBS News - Live Breaking News is a great option for streaming live news broadcasts and getting breaking news alerts. The app provides access to CBS Ne...

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What's a good Android app for getting straight news updates, without all the reality TV drama?

Okay, so I've been on the hunt for a news app that doesn't feel like I'm wading through a swamp of celebrity garbage. Seriously, I just want to know w...

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What's a grand Android app for catching live news updates, especially when my dodgy hotel Wi-Fi is playing up?

Honestly, CBS News has been an absolute godsend on my travels. I remember being in a tiny village in Italy with Wi-Fi that kept cutting out, and I sti...

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Okay, so what's a good Android app for catching up on the news with live video while I'm, like, folding laundry or waiting for the school bus? Gotta multitask, ya know?

Okay, so I downloaded this CBS News app like, last week, because who has time to sit down and watch TV anymore? It's a total game-changer for busy par...

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What's the best Android app for keeping up with live news broadcasts, especially when I'm on the road and can't get to a TV?

Look, I'm a busy guy, running my own business. I don't always have time to sit down and watch the evening news. What I needed was an app that could gi...

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What's a good Android app for keeping up with live news broadcasts, especially if I want to see events as they unfold?

Oh, I must say, the CBS News app is quite a find! It's wonderfully organized for keeping up with current events. What I appreciate most is the live st...

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User Reviews

Steve Wood
Apr 27, 2025

I like the widget particularly. I like the widget showing NEWS, no Gaga, no Kardashians. It shows NEWS. Bravo. SUGGESTION: Could the "whitespace" or white background of the widget be made to expand from the current 4×2 format? At present: some users have the screen and font maximized on their phones. This cuts off the three scrolling headlines. More white background = a complete, readable scrolling headline. A widget 4×3 size, or larger, would be nice.

Steve Wood
Apr 27, 2025

I like the widget particularly. I like the widget showing NEWS, no Gaga, no Kardashians. It shows NEWS. Bravo. SUGGESTION: Could the "whitespace" or white background of the widget be made to expand from the current 4×2 format? At present: some users have the screen and font maximized on their phones. This cuts off the three scrolling headlines. More white background = a complete, readable scrolling headline. A widget 4×3 size, or larger, would be nice.

Steve Wood
Apr 27, 2025

I like the widget particularly. I like the widget showing NEWS, no Gaga, no Kardashians. It shows NEWS. Bravo. SUGGESTION: Could the "whitespace" or white background of the widget be made to expand from the current 4×2 format? At present: some users have the screen and font maximized on their phones. This cuts off the three scrolling headlines. More white background = a complete, readable scrolling headline. A widget 4×3 size, or larger, would be nice.

Steve Wood
Apr 27, 2025

I like the widget particularly. I like the widget showing NEWS, no Gaga, no Kardashians. It shows NEWS. Bravo. SUGGESTION: Could the "whitespace" or white background of the widget be made to expand from the current 4×2 format? At present: some users have the screen and font maximized on their phones. This cuts off the three scrolling headlines. More white background = a complete, readable scrolling headline. A widget 4×3 size, or larger, would be nice.

Steve Wood
Apr 27, 2025

I like the widget particularly. I like the widget showing NEWS, no Gaga, no Kardashians. It shows NEWS. Bravo. SUGGESTION: Could the "whitespace" or white background of the widget be made to expand from the current 4×2 format? At present: some users have the screen and font maximized on their phones. This cuts off the three scrolling headlines. More white background = a complete, readable scrolling headline. A widget 4×3 size, or larger, would be nice.

App Details

Developer

CBS Interactive, Inc.

Platform

android

Rating

4.1

Last Updated

10/10/2025