ABC7 Chicago News & Weather icon
ABC7 Chicago News & Weather App: A Deep Dive into Chicago's Go-To News Source

by Disney

4.7
IOSNews
For anyone who needs reliable, up-to-the-minute local reporting, the ABC7 Chicago News & Weather app delivers comprehensive coverage. This app consolidates breaking news, detailed forecasts, sports updates, and entertainment stories specific to the Chicago area. Designed to help residents stay informed, it functions as a direct digital extension of the WLS-TV broadcast team.

Detailed Review

As a primary digital outlet for WLS-TV, the ABC7 Chicago app positions itself as an essential tool for Chicago-area residents seeking localized information. The app serves not just as a news aggregator, but as a dedicated platform for the station's own reporting, weather tracking, and live broadcast streams. Its market position is built on the longstanding reputation of the ABC7 broadcast brand, aiming to translate trust from television to the mobile screen. Core functionality centers on several key areas. A prominently featured live radar, branded as Doppler Max, provides interactive weather tracking, which is critical in a region known for rapidly changing conditions. The news feed is organized by categories like breaking news, sports, and entertainment, with many stories including full video segments from the television newscasts. The app also sends push notifications for major breaking news and severe weather alerts, a feature vital for immediate safety information. Live streaming of the ABC7 broadcast is available for users with a valid TV provider login, though this requires an additional verification step. In daily use, the interface prioritizes speed and clarity. Headlines and video thumbnails load quickly, and navigating between the news sections and weather radar is intuitive. The real-world utility is most apparent during significant weather events or breaking news situations, where users can track storms on the radar while reading the latest updates from reporters in the field. However, the experience is not without occasional technical hiccups; some users have noted instances where the Doppler radar display can freeze, requiring an app restart to refresh the data. User feedback trends are overwhelmingly positive, with high ratings largely based on trust in the ABC7 brand and appreciation for the concentrated local focus. Reviews consistently mention the reliability of the weather radar and the depth of local reporting. One recurring critique, as seen in the app store, points to sporadic bugs within the Doppler Max feature, with reports of the radar image failing to update automatically. This specific flaw, while not universal, is a noted pain point for a subset of users who depend on it for precise weather tracking. Overall, the ABC7 Chicago app succeeds as a specialized, region-focused news application. Its greatest strength is the direct pipeline to a trusted local newsroom, offering depth that generic news apps cannot match for Chicagoans. The main limitations involve occasional technical reliability in its marquee weather feature and the gatekeeping of live streaming behind a cable subscription. For viewers who already rely on ABC7 for their news, this app is a logical and mostly effective companion.

Key Features

  • Interactive Doppler Max Radar: Provides live, zoomable weather radar maps specifically for the Chicago region, crucial for tracking severe storms and precipitation.
  • Customizable News Feed: Organizes local stories into clear categories including Breaking News, Sports, and Entertainment, with many articles containing full video reports.
  • Live Streaming & Broadcasts: Allows users to watch the live ABC7 Chicago broadcast directly within the app, though authentication with a TV provider is required.
  • Severe Weather & News Alerts: Sends push notifications for critical local events, from traffic disruptions and school closings to urgent weather warnings.
  • On-Demand Video Library: Offers a searchable archive of news segments, interviews, and feature stories from the ABC7 team for catch-up viewing.
  • Traffic & Commute Updates: Includes regularly updated traffic maps and reports focused on major Chicago-area expressways and transit lines.

Why Users Love It

Deep, trusted local reporting from the ABC7 newsroom
Essential live radar for volatile Midwest weather

Perfect for: Chicago-area residents who want consolidated, trustworthy local news and precise weather tracking on their mobile device.

Screenshots

ABC7 Chicago News & Weather screenshot 1ABC7 Chicago News & Weather screenshot 2ABC7 Chicago News & Weather screenshot 3ABC7 Chicago News & Weather screenshot 4ABC7 Chicago News & Weather screenshot 5ABC7 Chicago News & Weather screenshot 6

Ranking History

Track ABC7 Chicago News & Weather's performance in News over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#36

Best Rank

#36

All-time high

Average Rank

#36

30-day average

User Reviews

mdkey36
Nov 17, 2024

WLS-TV is Chicago’s #1 news, bringing Chicagoans the latest on breaking news, weather, sports and entertainment. It’s the only station I turn to because I trust their team of dedicated reporters and anchors. Love Chicago’s #1 News! WLS-TV is Chicago’s #1 news, bringing Chicagoans the latest on breaking news, weather, sports and entertainment. It’s the only station I turn to because I trust their team of dedicated reporters and anchors.

appleu267
May 25, 2024

Thanks Chicago, this is a good app check the news everyday Good News App Thanks Chicago, this is a good app check the news everyday

jkunzen
Jul 12, 2023

Doppler max has been stuck at 9:47 am for two weeks now Doppler max broke Doppler max has been stuck at 9:47 am for two weeks now

unhappy 734
Mar 19, 2025

I like the app and that I can listen to the weather reports or other news on my time. However, switching to different videos is a problem on my iPhone. I can still hear the previous video in the background, after I close it out. So I have to close the app completely to make the ghost audio stop and start watching a new news reel. Still have some bugs to fix I like the app and that I can listen to the weather reports or other news on my time. However, switching to different videos is a problem on my iPhone. I can still hear the previous video in the background, after I close it out. So I have to close the app completely to make the ghost audio stop and start watching a new news reel.

App Details

Developer

Disney

Platform

ios

Rating

4.7

Last Updated

1/1/2026