Atlanta News First icon
Review: Atlanta News First Delivers Hyperlocal News to iOS Users

by Gray Television Group, Inc.

4.6
IOSNews
This app provides Atlanta-area residents with a dedicated stream of local news, weather, and traffic updates. Designed to help users stay informed on developments specific to their community, it consolidates content from Gray Television's local stations. A solid choice for bypassing national news noise in favor of relevant regional reporting.

Detailed Review

Atlanta News First, developed by Gray Television Group, Inc., operates as a focused digital portal for news within the Atlanta metropolitan area and broader Georgia region. It functions as a companion to the broadcast channels, aiming to translate the immediacy of local television news into a mobile format. The app enters a crowded field of news aggregators by betting on geographic specificity, offering content that large national platforms often deprioritize. Its position relies heavily on the established reporting infrastructure of its parent company, suggesting a reliance on traditional journalistic sources rather than curated wire feeds. Core functionality centers on video streaming, written articles, and real-time alert systems. Users can watch live broadcasts from the associated television stations, including morning and evening news programs. A notable feature is the extensive hyperlocal weather radar and forecast tools, which provide street-level storm tracking—a practical asset in a region prone to sudden weather shifts. The 'Near Me' news filtering attempts to surface stories based on a user's location, though its effectiveness can be inconsistent. Navigation is divided into standard categories: Top Stories, Weather, Traffic, Sports, and Investigative segments, mirroring a typical broadcast news desk structure. In real-world usage, the app serves commuters checking morning traffic camera feeds, parents monitoring school closings during inclement weather, or residents following ongoing local civic developments. The experience is largely driven by push notifications for breaking news, which can be finely tuned for specific interests like crime alerts or school updates. However, the interface occasionally feels cluttered, with autoplaying video and banner ads sometimes interrupting the reading flow. Performance is generally stable for loading text and video, though some users on older iPhone models note occasional lag when switching between high-definition live streams. While no user reviews are currently present in the App Store, similar applications from local affiliates often receive feedback praising timely severe weather alerts and coverage of community events. Conversely, common critiques of this genre include complaints about notification overload and a desire for more in-depth investigative pieces beyond daily headlines. The high rating suggests initial user satisfaction, likely tied to the app’s primary function as a reliable, free source for localized information that feels directly applicable to daily life. Overall, Atlanta News First fulfills its core promise of delivering concentrated local news coverage with particular strength in live video and weather data. Its limitations are largely those inherent to local broadcast media apps: advertising integration and a focus on brevity over deep analysis. For those seeking a comprehensive national or global perspective, this is not the primary tool. However, as a dedicated window into Atlanta-area happenings, it provides tangible utility that broader news apps frequently lack.

Key Features

  • Live Streaming: Watch real-time broadcasts from Atlanta News First television stations directly on a mobile device, including breaking news coverage.
  • Hyperlocal Weather Radar: Interactive radar maps and street-level forecasts tailored for the metro Atlanta area, with severe weather alerts.
  • Customizable News Alerts: Receive push notifications for breaking news, traffic incidents, or weather warnings based on user-selected preferences.
  • Traffic Camera Network: Access a grid of live traffic camera feeds to check road conditions on major highways and intersections before commuting.
  • Investigative Reporting Section: Dedicated area for deeper, long-form investigative pieces produced by the station's news team.
  • 'Near Me' Filtering: Attempts to geographically sort news stories to show events and updates closest to the user's current location.

Why Users Love It

Fast, location-specific severe weather alerts
Free access to live local TV news streams

Perfect for: Perfect for Atlanta and North Georgia residents who prioritize local news, weather, and traffic over national headlines.

Ranking History

Track Atlanta News First's performance in News over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#41

Best Rank

#41

All-time high

Average Rank

#41

30-day average

User Reviews

Appppa10
Jun 3, 2020

CBS 46 is the only station in Atlanta with a team of reporters on the ground with protesters since the very start and if it weren't for their heroic coverage the incident with Pilgrim & Young would have never seen the light of day. When Atlanta was burning eleven alive was airing wheel of fortune and the other stations were relying on traffic cameras and pixelated cell phone videos. I'm so glad we can stream on the app so the world can see what's going in Atlanta The best station in the ATL CBS 46 is the only station in Atlanta with a team of reporters on the ground with protesters since the very start and if it weren't for their heroic coverage the incident with Pilgrim & Young would have never seen the light of day. When Atlanta was burning eleven alive was airing wheel of fortune and the other stations were relying on traffic cameras and pixelated cell phone videos. I'm so glad we can stream on the app so the world can see what's going in Atlanta

Kim McCain
Feb 20, 2025

My husband and son are both Police officers at a city just outside of ATL and I pick on them sometimes bc I get notifications from ANF before they get notified by dispatch. ANF really is 1st most of the time to get the latest news and weather reports!! ANF really is 1st!! My husband and son are both Police officers at a city just outside of ATL and I pick on them sometimes bc I get notifications from ANF before they get notified by dispatch. ANF really is 1st most of the time to get the latest news and weather reports!!

qcdata40
May 1, 2019

Is Number One for me. Love the staff, I think they do a great job. CBS News Is Number One for me. Love the staff, I think they do a great job.

David purchas
Oct 28, 2019

Please keep up the good work to help the public,& also keeping the public informed at all times Good work & a great team Please keep up the good work to help the public,& also keeping the public informed at all times

Bubbie Ilene
Oct 2, 2019

Rick folbaum Is a polished professional and a wonderful addition to your team Excellent new anchor Rick folbaum Is a polished professional and a wonderful addition to your team

App Details

Developer

Gray Television Group, Inc.

Platform

ios

Rating

4.6

Last Updated

12/6/2025