--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "News13 WBTW Weather Radar" developer_entity: "LIN Television Corporation" bundle_id: "com.mediageneral.wsiwbtw2" app_store_id: "498022792" google_play_id: "tv.nexstar.id3506" category: "Weather" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Free" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2026-03-11" report_date: "2026-06-13" last_verified: "2026-06-13T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "60.1.401" total_reviews: 2999 overall_rating: 4.7 sentiment: "Excited" sentiment_score: 85 confidence: "high" confidence_score: 0.7 top_praise_theme: "Forecast Accuracy" top_complaint_theme: "Missing Emergency Features" review_sample_size: 79 data_age_days: 64 intelligence_version: 4 nemesis: "Florida Storms" competitor_count: 8 tags: ["weather", "free", "excited sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "residents", "visitors", "myrtle"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/news13-wbtw-weather-radar" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # News13 WBTW Weather Radar Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Weather · Free - **Signal**: Rating 4.72 · Sentiment Excited - **Recent focus**: Missing Emergency Features (top complaint) · Forecast Accuracy (top praise) > **TL;DR:** News13 WBTW Weather Radar is a weather app by LIN Television Corporation, rated 4.72/5 by 3K users, with Excited user sentiment (85/100), available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** — Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** News13 WBTW Weather Radar maintains Excited user sentiment (4.72/5 from 3K reviews), with users consistently praising forecast accuracy. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.72/5 (3K reviews) | | **User Mood** | Excited | | **Category** | Weather | | **Developer** | LIN Television Corporation | | **Pricing** | Free | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | High (0.7/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 64d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** LIN Television Corporation - **Category:** Weather - **Target Audience:** Residents and visitors in the Myrtle Beach, Florence, and surrounding South Carolina counties. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Reviewed:** 60.1.401 - **Report Date:** 2026-06-13 - **Signal Count:** 79 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** High (0.7/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 498022792 - **Bundle ID:** com.mediageneral.wsiwbtw2 - **Google Play ID:** tv.nexstar.id3506 - **Performance Trend:** Mixed - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-06-13 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** News13 WBTW Weather Radar is a regional weather utility for residents of South Carolina, providing forecasts, radar, and local news content on iOS and Android. **Why users hire it:** Users hire this app for hyper-local meteorological updates that national weather services lack, serving the need for regional safety awareness during storm events. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Interactive Radar Map:** Visual tracking of weather patterns. * *User Intent:* Users want visibility into their own performance and progress. - **[Differentiator] Local Weather Blog:** Written updates by the StormTracker 13 team. * *User Intent:* Users want visibility into their own performance and progress. - **[Differentiator] User Content Submission:** Upload photos/videos of local weather. ## Market Position {#market-position} The app maintains a strong 4.71 rating on iOS, but the lack of high-precision radar features found in peers like WCTI Storm Track 12 limits its competitive edge. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Free - **Tiers:** Free access to all weather data and features - **Analysis:** The app operates as an ad-supported utility designed to drive traffic to the broadcaster's local news brand. ## 🟢 User Sentiment (High Confidence: 3K reviews) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 4.72/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 4.7/5 (2.8K ratings) | Android 4.7/5 (223 ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Excited ### Top Praises - **Forecast Accuracy** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Missing Emergency Features** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Local blog content builds regional trust [Market Segment] - 4.71 iOS rating indicates high forecast satisfaction [Platform Metric] **Growth Levers:** - Integrate live audio alerts to neutralize safety-oriented rivals [Market Opportunity] - Expand user-generated content into a social weather feed [Engagement Metric] ## Recent Changes (v3 → v4) {#recent-changes} The app's competitive strategy shifted from general regional utility to a defensive posture against safety-focused rivals, necessitating a pivot toward emergency broadcast integration and radar precision. **Overall trend**: Mixed **Compared at**: 2026-06-13 ### High-impact changes - **[Shifted] Safety-First Competitive Stance** (positioning) - **[Added] Emergency Feature Complaints** (sentiment) - **[Added] New Competitive Threats** (swot) ### Medium-impact changes - **[Added] Technical Feature Gaps** (features) ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### News13 WBTW Weather Radar vs Florida Storms - **[Florida Storms](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-mobiquityinc-floridastorms)** by University of Florida: This app competes directly for the attention of regional weather-sensitive users by prioritizing hyper-local emergency broadcasting and specialized storm tracking. - **Key differences:** - Integrates live FPREN radio streaming for real-time emergency updates during critical weather events - Features a dedicated 'Feeds' section that aggregates official meteorological reports and emergency management data ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[WorldPulsePro](https://marlvel.ai/apps/worldpulsepro)** by Corporate Smalltalk Consulting Ltd: While currently stagnant, this app competes for the same weather-tracking audience by offering global data visualization tools. - Provides a global interactive globe view that contrasts with this app's hyper-local regional focus - Includes network pinging utilities that appeal to power users interested in technical weather data infrastructure ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **[WeatherNation App](https://marlvel.ai/apps/weathernation-app)** by WeatherNation TV: Competes for the same user base by offering a national-scale alternative to local broadcast weather apps. - Features 24-hour live streaming video content that provides a continuous broadcast experience for users - Encourages community engagement through user-generated content submission, fostering a more active social weather ecosystem - **[WSOC-TV Channel 9 Weather App](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-cmgdigital-wsocweatheripad)** by Cox Media Group: A dominant regional competitor that shares the same broadcast-to-mobile business model and high-resolution radar focus. - Boasts a massive review volume that creates a strong social proof barrier for new regional entrants - Optimizes location-based alerts with higher frequency, ensuring users receive critical updates faster than this app - **[Air Matters](https://marlvel.ai/apps/air-matters)** by Air Matters Network Pty Ltd: This app overlaps with this app by providing environmental monitoring, though it focuses on air quality rather than storm tracking. - Supports direct hardware integration with air quality monitors for personalized, real-time environmental data - Maintains a global air quality data API that serves a broader international user base than regional apps - **[WCTI Storm Track 12](https://marlvel.ai/apps/wcti-storm-track-12)** by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc: This is a direct peer in the local broadcast weather space, utilizing similar radar-centric features to capture regional audiences. - Offers high-precision 250-meter radar resolution that provides superior detail for localized storm tracking - Includes a dedicated future radar feature allowing users to visualize projected storm paths more effectively ### New Kids on the Block (What's Innovative) - **[STORM-GPS Tornado Tracker](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-dspetty-stormgps)** by Daniel Lampe: This newcomer disrupts the market by focusing on hyper-specific storm tracking and street-level ETA analysis. - Provides street-level ETA tracking for storm cells, offering more actionable safety data than standard radar - **[Roam Weather](https://marlvel.ai/apps/roam-weather)** by BareBones Dev, LLC: A new entrant targeting mobile-first users who prioritize offline access and multi-location planning over local broadcast news. - Enables full offline access to forecasts, solving a major pain point for travelers in remote areas ## App Momentum (Steady) {#momentum} - Maintains high regional user satisfaction. - Ships regular stability updates. ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} News13 WBTW Weather Radar is a market-leading weather app that is completely free. With a 4.72/5 rating from 3K reviews, it delivers strong user satisfaction. > **Bottom Line:** The app maintains strong regional trust through local content, but the lack of emergency broadcast integration and high-precision radar leaves it exposed to safety-focused rivals, so the PM should prioritize emergency audio features to secure the user base. **Best for:** Residents and visitors in the Myrtle Beach, Florence, and surrounding South Carolina counties. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [INVEST] Integrate live emergency audio alerts because rivals like Florida Storms use this to capture high-intent users → increase retention during severe weather. ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - Live FPREN radio streaming (available in Florida Storms) ### Outlook: Mixed The regional weather market is consolidating around high-precision, safety-first utilities that provide more than just standard radar. The subject app remains exposed due to its reliance on broadcast-style content, so the PM must pivot toward emergency-ready features to prevent user migration to specialized storm trackers. - 🔴 The lack of emergency radio integration creates a safety-gap that allows rivals to capture high-intent users during severe weather events. - 🟢 Consistent high ratings on iOS indicate that the core forecast accuracy remains a strong retention driver for the local audience. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.72/5 | | Total Reviews | 3K | | Sentiment | Excited (85/100) | | Confidence | High | | Pricing Model | Free | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Trend | Mixed | | Outlook | Mixed | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **News13 WBTW Weather Radar** (this app) | 4.72/5 | Excited | LIN Television Corporation | | [Florida Storms](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-mobiquityinc-floridastorms) | 3.8/5 | N/A | University of Florida | | [WSOC-TV Channel 9 Weather App](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-cmgdigital-wsocweatheripad) | 4.8/5 | Mixed | Cox Media Group | | [WCTI Storm Track 12](https://marlvel.ai/apps/wcti-storm-track-12) | 4.8/5 | Excited | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc | | [WorldPulsePro](https://marlvel.ai/apps/worldpulsepro) | 3.0/5 | N/A | Corporate Smalltalk Consulting Ltd | | [Roam Weather](https://marlvel.ai/apps/roam-weather) | 5.0/5 | N/A | BareBones Dev, LLC | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** LIN Television Corporation - **Website:** [https://www.wbtw.com/](https://www.wbtw.com/) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/news13-wbtw-weather-radar/id498022792?uo=4) - **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.nexstar.id3506&hl=en&gl=us) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://www.wbtw.com/) - **Sources:** Developer website content, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Florida Storms*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-mobiquityinc-floridastorms) (University of Florida) · 3.8/5 Rating - [*WSOC-TV Channel 9 Weather App*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-cmgdigital-wsocweatheripad) (Cox Media Group) · 4.8/5 Rating - [*WCTI Storm Track 12*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/wcti-storm-track-12) (Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc) · 4.8/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*WorldPulsePro*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/worldpulsepro) (Corporate Smalltalk Consulting Ltd) · 3.0/5 Rating - [*Roam Weather*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/roam-weather) (BareBones Dev, LLC) · 5.0/5 Rating - [*WeatherNation App*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/weathernation-app) (WeatherNation TV) · 3.7/5 Rating - [*Air Matters*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/air-matters) (Air Matters Network Pty Ltd) · 4.6/5 Rating - [*STORM-GPS Tornado Tracker*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-dspetty-stormgps) (Daniel Lampe) · 4.9/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*KBZK Montana Weather*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/kbzk-montana-weather) (E.W. Scripps Company) · 4.1/5 Rating - [*14 days Weather*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/14-days-weather) (Tasmanic Editions) · 4.5/5 Rating ## 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:** 0.7/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 79 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, 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:** 64 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/news13-wbtw-weather-radar) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.