Houston News from KHOU 11 is a local news and weather app for the Houston area, providing live broadcasts and alerts on iOS and Android.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
It serves as a mobile-first replacement for traditional cable news, allowing residents to access live local events and severe weather alerts without a subscription.
For Residents of the Houston and Southeast Texas area seeking local news, weather alerts, and live broadcast coverage.
What does it look like?
Key features
Live broadcast of newscasts and breaking news events, serving as a primary retention loop for cord-cutters.
Hyperlocal weather forecasts and interactive radar maps, driving daily engagement through severe weather alerts.
Cast live video and news clips to external television devices, extending the broadcast experience to the living room.
How much does it cost?
The app monetizes exclusively through ad-inventory generated by high-frequency news and weather engagement.
Velocity
Active developmentopaqueperformanceShow more...
The app maintains an active release cadence with 3 distinct versions shipped within the recent window, averaging approximately 1 release per week. Development appears focused on stability and maintenance, as all recent changelogs are limited to generic bug fixes and improvements. The publisher consistently utilizes opaque release notes, suggesting that updates may be driven by server-side configurations or internal optimizations rather than user-facing feature additions. The development trend remains stable, with no evidence of new content or major feature rollouts in the current history.
Who built it?
TEGNA
13+ apps tracked · News & Magazines
KENS5+
WNEP+
WHAS11 Louisville News
KARE 11 News
WBIR 10+
WQAD News 8 Quad Cities
WFAA+
Indianapolis News from 13 WTHR
WUSA9 News
WFAA - News from North Texas
KING 5 News for Seattle/Tacoma
12 News KPNX ArizonaUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Review voice lately leans frustrated. Users appreciate local weather alerts and live news coverage provide accurate information for residents planning their daily schedules and live broadcast availability allows users to stay informed on local events without needing a cable subscription, but report recent design changes force portrait-only viewing and remove landscape mode, frustrating users who prefer horizontal layouts.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Local weather alerts and live news coverage provide accurate information for residents planning their daily schedules
- Live broadcast availability allows users to stay informed on local events without needing a cable subscription
- Recent design changes force portrait-only viewing and remove landscape mode, frustrating users who prefer horizontal layouts
60 of 99 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Frustrated overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 2 more frustration themes and 2 user requests, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Houston News from KHOU 11
How's the News & Magazines market?
Houston News from KHOU 11 currently ranks #163 in the US News & Magazines category, reflecting a decline in chart momentum. The 0.3-star rating gap between iOS (4.8) and Android (4.5) indicates that the recent UI regressions are impacting the Android user base more severely.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Houston News from KHOU 11
Where is it heading?
The local news category is shifting toward high-utility, low-friction experiences, and Houston News from KHOU 11 is currently moving in the opposite direction. The latest design choices prioritize ad-inventory over user utility, which will erode the daily habit and accelerate churn as users migrate to more accessible local news alternatives.
- The removal of landscape mode and search functionality in the latest release creates navigation friction, which directly correlates with the recent negative sentiment trend.
- Excessive ad placement fragments the reading experience, causing users to seek alternative news sources, which will likely compress long-term engagement metrics.
The SWOT
- Official CBS affiliate status secures exclusive local news rights
- Restoring dark mode would reduce eye strain during extended reading sessions
Next best moves
Restore landscape orientation and search functionality because these are the top-cited reasons for app deletion → improve retention
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The high iOS rating masks a deeper retention crisis…
Read the full takeSince the last report: The report identifies a widening performance gap between iOS and Android platforms and a more critical stance on the developer's prioritization of ad-inventory over core navigation.
Bottom line
Restoring basic navigation like search and landscape mode would address the primary churn drivers identified in recent feedback. Prioritizing these usability fixes over ad-density will stabilize the user base before the next major weather event cycle.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Houston News from KHOU 11 free to use?
Does the app support landscape mode?
Can I search for specific news topics in the app?
Sources
Report last updated