MS NOW is a news streaming app for iOS and Android that provides live broadcast access and on-demand clips for cable-authenticated users.
Product velocity
Maintenance
Daily rank 🇺🇸
#46
▼1News & Magazines · free
Sentiment
4.1
33k reviews
Nemesis
Fragmented field
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app serves as a digital extension for cable subscribers to access network news, but it fails to remove the friction of TV provider authentication for modern cord-cutters.
For Political news consumers and network show viewers who maintain active cable or satellite TV subscriptions.
What does it look like?
Key features
Real-time broadcast access via TV provider authentication, acting as a B2B distribution gate for cable partners.
24/7 continuous audio broadcast of network news and CNBC, serving as a low-bandwidth retention loop.
Curated video clips for quick consumption, driving ad-supported inventory.
How much does it cost?
Monetization relies on ad-supported inventory and B2B partnerships with TV providers to gate full-length content.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentperformanceopaqueShow more...
The app maintains a maintenance-level cadence, shipping only two minor updates over the observed window. With the latest release occurring 39 days ago, development is focused exclusively on performance and stability. The release notes remain opaque, offering no insight into specific feature development or roadmap progress. The current pace suggests a focus on basic upkeep rather than active feature expansion.
Who built it?
Versant Media
9 apps tracked · News & Magazines
CNBC: Stock Market & Business
MS NOW: Watch Live News
USA Network
E!
SYFY
E! News
OXYGEN
Golf ChannelUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Recent user voice shows an upset sentiment. Users appreciate high quality journalism and political reporting keep loyal news consumers engaged with the content, but report live stream playback fails consistently across multiple devices, preventing users from accessing real-time news.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
Weekly average review rating
What users say, by theme
- High quality journalism and political reporting keep loyal news consumers engaged with the content
- Live stream playback fails consistently across multiple devices, preventing users from accessing real-time news
98 of 99 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Upset overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 2 more frustration themes and 3 user requests, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for MS NOW: Watch Live News
How's the News & Magazines market?
MS NOW maintains a 4.11-star rating across 33,261 total ratings, yet the maintenance-only update cadence signals a lack of investment in competitive parity. The reliance on cable authentication limits the addressable market to legacy subscribers, creating a clear ceiling for growth.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for MS NOW: Watch Live News
Where is it heading?
The news streaming market is consolidating around standalone, subscription-based access that removes legacy provider friction. MS NOW's maintenance-only posture leaves it exposed to rivals that offer stable, direct-to-consumer experiences, which will likely erode the app's market share over the next two quarters.
- Persistent playback failures during live broadcasts erode the daily active habit, which compounds the rating drag already visible on Android.
- The lack of a direct subscription model forces cord-cutters to abandon the platform, accelerating churn pressure as the cable-subscriber base shrinks.
The SWOT
- High-quality political journalism retains loyal news consumers
- Direct subscription model would capture cord-cutters
Next best moves
Audit authentication API because cable-provider loops are the #1 complaint → reduce login-related churn
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's maintenance-mode status is a strategic choice to protect B2B cable partnerships…
Read the full takeSince the last report: The app's competitive posture shifted from passive maintenance to a more defensive B2B-focused strategy, explicitly acknowledging that the lack of a direct-to-consumer subscription tier is a deliberate trade-off to protect cable carriage fees.
Bottom line
The current reliance on cable-provider authentication limits growth to a shrinking demographic. A direct-to-consumer subscription tier would unlock the cord-cutter segment and address the primary frustration driving negative sentiment, securing the app's relevance in a streaming-first market.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is MS NOW free to use?
Can I watch MS NOW without a cable subscription?
Why does the live stream keep failing?
Are there alternatives for watching news without cable?
Sources
- [1] Play Store listing, source
Report last updated