--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Times Record News" developer_entity: "Gannett" bundle_id: "com.gannett.news.local.timesrecordnews" app_store_id: "1119333677" google_play_id: "com.scripps.timesrecordnews.mobile" category: "News" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Freemium" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2026-04-08" report_date: "2026-09-01" last_verified: "2026-09-01T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "8.9.0" total_reviews: 413 overall_rating: 4 sentiment: "Frustrated" sentiment_score: 35 confidence: "high" confidence_score: 0.8 top_praise_theme: "Responsive design and fresh news delivery provide a reliable daily information source for local readers" top_complaint_theme: "Frequent application crashes and loading failures prevent users from accessing articles and the digital newspaper" review_sample_size: 58 total_review_count: 58 analyzed_review_count: 58 data_age_days: 74 intelligence_version: 27 nemesis: "Winston-Salem Journal" competitor_count: 9 tags: ["news", "freemium", "frustrated sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "local", "community", "members"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/times-record-news" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # Times Record News Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: News · Freemium - **Signal**: Rating 4 · Sentiment Frustrated - **Recent focus**: Frequent application crashes and loading failures prevent users from accessing articles and the digital newspaper (top complaint) · Responsive design and fresh news delivery provide a reliable daily information source for local readers (top praise) > **TL;DR:** Times Record News is a news app by Gannett, rated 4/5 by 413 users, with Frustrated user sentiment (35/100), available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Times Record News faces Frustrated user sentiment (4/5 from 413 reviews), with users reporting frequent application crashes and loading failures prevent users from accessing articles and the digital newspaper as the primary concern. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4/5 (413 reviews) | | **User Mood** | Frustrated | | **Category** | News | | **Developer** | Gannett | | **Pricing** | Freemium | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | High (0.8/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 74d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Gannett - **Category:** News - **Target Audience:** Local community members and news readers seeking both regional coverage and access to the broader USA TODAY network. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Reviewed:** 8.9.0 - **Report Date:** 2026-09-01 - **Signal Count:** 58 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** High (0.8/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 1119333677 - **Bundle ID:** com.gannett.news.local.timesrecordnews - **Google Play ID:** com.scripps.timesrecordnews.mobile - **Performance Trend:** Declining - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-09-01 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Times Record News is a regional news app for local community members, offering articles, video, and a digital eNewspaper replica on iOS and Android. **Why users hire it:** The app serves as a daily information hub for local readers, displacing the need for print-only subscriptions by providing a digital-first, mobile-accessible version of the community paper. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Differentiator] eNewspaper:** Digital replica of the print edition, serving as a key retention loop for legacy subscribers. - **[Differentiator] USA TODAY Network Access:** Cross-publication access to USA TODAY and over 200 local eNewspapers, providing a content volume advantage over local-only rivals. * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features. - **[Standard] Real-time Notifications:** Push alerts for breaking news and weather, maintaining daily utility for the local user base. * *User Intent:* Users are motivated by consistent progression and daily incentives. ## Market Position {#market-position} Times Record News operates in the local news segment, currently ranking #190 Grossing in the US News & Magazines category. The gap between its broad network content and the reported technical instability suggests that the current monetization model is underperforming due to friction in the user experience. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Freemium - **Tiers:** Free tier with limited article sampling, Subscription-based premium access for full content and eNewspaper - **Analysis:** The freemium model uses a sampling gate to convert casual readers into monthly or annual subscribers. ## 🔴 User Sentiment (High Confidence: 58 of 58 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 4/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 4.4/5 (318 ratings) | Android 2.8/5 (95 ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Frustrated - **Note:** The 4/5 store rating reflects cumulative history, while the Frustrated sentiment reflects recent user reviews analyzed by our AI pipeline. ### Top Praises - **Responsive design and fresh news delivery provide a reliable daily information source for local readers** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Frequent application crashes and loading failures prevent users from accessing articles and the digital newspaper** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - USA TODAY Network access provides a content volume advantage over local-only rivals **Growth Levers:** - Obituary section management (simplified list view) represents an opportunity to increase daily utility for older demographics ## Recent Changes (v26 → v27) {#recent-changes} Technical debt and authentication failures have moved the outlook to declining, forcing a pivot in product strategy to prioritize access stability over new feature development. The competitive narrative now views the reliance on national network content as a liability that obscures the need for hyper-local engagement. **Overall trend**: Declining **Compared at**: 2026-09-01 ### High-impact changes - **[Shifted] Outlook trend downgrade** (positioning) - **[Shifted] Contrarian take pivot** (positioning) ### Medium-impact changes - **[Added] News+ integration gap** (features) ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### Times Record News vs Winston-Salem Journal - **[Winston-Salem Journal](https://marlvel.ai/apps/winston-salem-journal)** by BH Media Group: This app competes directly for the same local news audience by offering a similar digital-first experience centered on community-specific journalism and e-edition access. - **Key differences:** - Offers a dedicated E-edition feature that provides a familiar print-like reading experience for legacy subscribers. - Maintains a higher release cadence, suggesting more frequent bug fixes and feature iterations than our app. - Leverages News+ integration to bundle content, potentially increasing perceived value compared to our standalone subscription model. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[West Central Tribune](https://marlvel.ai/apps/west-central-tribune)** by Forum Communications Company: This app competes for local attention by providing a streamlined, accessible platform for regional news updates. - Prioritizes local news access with a clean interface that avoids the clutter of national news syndication. - Higher user rating indicates superior app stability and performance compared to our current Android implementation. - **[Brainerd Dispatch](https://marlvel.ai/apps/brainerd-dispatch)** by Forum Communications Company: This app competes by offering a simplified, mobile-centric news experience that prioritizes local reporting over national content. - Optimized for mobile news access, providing a faster load time for users on limited data connections. - Simplified navigation structure reduces friction for older demographics who may struggle with complex, ad-heavy news apps. - **[Courier Express](https://marlvel.ai/apps/courier-express)** by Community Media Group Inc: This app serves as a contender by providing 24/7 digital news integration that captures the same local news-seeking demographic. - Provides 24/7 news coverage, ensuring users remain engaged throughout the day rather than just during morning cycles. - Stronger focus on regional reporting depth helps differentiate their content from our broader, more generalized news feed. - **[Rochester Post Bulletin](https://marlvel.ai/apps/rochester-post-bulletin)** by Forum Communications Company: This app competes for local news market share by focusing on high-quality regional reporting and mobile-first accessibility. - Focuses exclusively on hyper-local reporting, which creates a stronger sense of community relevance than national-syndicated content. - Maintains a higher average rating, suggesting a more streamlined and bug-free user experience for local readers. ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **[OREGONLIVE.COM](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-vervewireless-advorg)** by OregonLive.com: This app competes by offering a massive archive and subscription-based access that targets power users of local news. - Provides access to the Newspapers.com archive, creating a massive value-add for history-conscious and research-oriented subscribers. - High-frequency release cadence ensures the app remains at the cutting edge of performance and feature parity. - **[WCBD News 2 - Charleston, SC](https://marlvel.ai/apps/wcbd-news-2-charleston-sc)** by Media General: This app competes for local engagement by leveraging interactive tools and user-generated content to build community loyalty. - Features a 'Report It!' submission tool that turns passive readers into active contributors, increasing app stickiness. - Interactive radar maps provide essential daily utility that keeps users returning to the app regardless of news cycles. - **[NBC10 Boston: News & Weather](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-nbcuni-lim-boston)** by NBCUniversal Media, LLC: This app operates in the same space by providing a comprehensive news and weather ecosystem that demands daily user interaction. - Integrates a customizable weather hub that serves as a daily utility, driving significantly higher retention than news-only apps. - Investigative reporting segments provide unique, high-value content that differentiates them from standard wire-service news feeds. - **[NBC 15](https://marlvel.ai/apps/nbc-15)** by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc: This app competes for the same user attention by blending local news with high-utility features like weather and live streaming. - Includes live streaming capabilities that keep users engaged during breaking news events, unlike our text-heavy feed. - Features a home screen widget that provides passive, high-frequency engagement without requiring the user to open the app. ## App Momentum (Steady) {#momentum} - Quiet 4 months, bug fixes only. - Last major release March 2026. ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Times Record News is a news app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 4/5 rating from 413 reviews, it faces significant user friction. > **Bottom Line:** Times Record News must prioritize stability over feature expansion to prevent further churn among legacy subscribers. Resolving authentication and crash regressions would unlock the value of the USA TODAY Network bundle, which is currently gated by technical friction. **Best for:** Local community members and news readers seeking both regional coverage and access to the broader USA TODAY network. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [INVEST] Audit authentication flow because subscription errors are a top-cited churn driver → reduce subscriber churn ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - E-edition feature (available in Winston-Salem Journal but missing here) ### Outlook: Declining Users report: The local news market is consolidating around publishers that provide a stable, print-like digital experience. Times Record News is currently exposed due to its low release cadence and technical debt, which will continue to drive churn until the core authentication and stability issues are addressed. - 🔴 Persistent loading errors and crashes in the latest version erode the daily active habit, which compounds the rating drag already visible on Android. - 🔴 Subscription authentication failures prevent paid users from accessing content, directly impacting revenue retention and driving negative sentiment among the most valuable user segment. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4/5 | | Total Reviews | 413 | | Sentiment | Frustrated (35/100) | | Confidence | High | | Pricing Model | Freemium | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Trend | Declining | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Times Record News** (this app) | 4/5 | Frustrated | Gannett | | [NBC10 Boston: News & Weather](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-nbcuni-lim-boston) | 4.5/5 | Mixed | NBCUniversal Media, LLC | | [NBC 15](https://marlvel.ai/apps/nbc-15) | 4.9/5 | n/a | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc | | [Winston-Salem Journal](https://marlvel.ai/apps/winston-salem-journal) | 4.4/5 | n/a | BH Media Group | | [WCBD News 2 - Charleston, SC](https://marlvel.ai/apps/wcbd-news-2-charleston-sc) | 4.7/5 | Mixed | Media General | | [Courier Express](https://marlvel.ai/apps/courier-express) | 4.6/5 | N/A | Community Media Group Inc | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Gannett - **Website:** [https://www.timesrecordnews.com](https://www.timesrecordnews.com) - **Social:** [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TimesRecordNews) · [X/Twitter](https://www.twitter.com/timesrecordnews) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store ID:** 1119333677 - **Google Play ID:** com.scripps.timesrecordnews.mobile - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://www.timesrecordnews.com) - **Sources:** Developer website content, About us / company information, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*NBC10 Boston: News & Weather*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-nbcuni-lim-boston) (NBCUniversal Media, LLC) · 4.5/5 Rating - [*NBC 15*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/nbc-15) (Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc) · 4.9/5 Rating - [*Winston-Salem Journal*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/winston-salem-journal) (BH Media Group) · 4.4/5 Rating - [*WCBD News 2 - Charleston, SC*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/wcbd-news-2-charleston-sc) (Media General) · 4.7/5 Rating - [*Courier Express*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/courier-express) (Community Media Group Inc) · 4.6/5 Rating - [*Rochester Post Bulletin*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/rochester-post-bulletin) (Forum Communications Company) · 4.5/5 Rating - [*Brainerd Dispatch*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/brainerd-dispatch) (Forum Communications Company) · 4.5/5 Rating - [*West Central Tribune*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/west-central-tribune) (Forum Communications Company) · 4.6/5 Rating - [*OREGONLIVE.COM*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-vervewireless-advorg) (OregonLive.com) · 4.3/5 Rating - [*Pierre Capital Journal*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/pierre-capital-journal) (Forum Communications Company) · 3.0/5 Rating ## Frequently Asked Questions {#faq} ### Is Times Record News worth paying for if I only read local news? The subscription provides access to the digital eNewspaper and the broader USA TODAY Network. However, current user reviews highlight technical issues with authentication that may affect the value for some subscribers. ### How does Times Record News compare to other local news apps? Times Record News offers a broader content reach through the USA TODAY Network, whereas many regional rivals focus exclusively on hyper-local reporting and often maintain higher app stability ratings. ### Does the app have issues with subscription access? Yes, recent user reviews report persistent authentication errors that prevent paid subscribers from accessing content, even when their account status is active. ### What is a free alternative for local news updates? Users seeking free alternatives often turn to regional broadcast news apps or mobile-optimized local news websites, which frequently offer faster load times and fewer authentication barriers. ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** - Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** - Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** - Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction into synthesised themes (no verbatim quotes). 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** - Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** - Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.8/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 58 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, company about page, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 74 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/times-record-news) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.