SC Times is a local news app providing regional journalism, sports coverage, and eNewspaper replicas on iOS and Android.
Product velocity
Unknown
Daily rank 🇺🇸
—
News
Sentiment
4.0
556 reviews
Nemesis
NewsBreak: Local News & Alerts
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Users hire the app to stay informed on regional events, but technical friction prevents them from accessing the content they pay for.
For Local community members seeking regional news, sports coverage, and access to broader national journalism.
What does it look like?
Key features
Digital replica of the print edition with access to USA TODAY and 200+ local publications
Push alerts for breaking news, sports scores, and weather tailored to user interests
Download stories for access without an active internet connection
How much does it cost?
Freemium model uses a sampling gate to convert casual readers into monthly or annual subscribers.
Velocity
Steady developmentShow more...
Who built it?
Gannett
13+ apps tracked · News
The Detroit News: Local News
azcentral
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Democrat & Chronicle
North Jersey: Record & Herald
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Naples Daily News
Columbus Dispatch: Local NewsUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
The recent review mood reads upset. Users appreciate local news coverage provides a reliable source for staying informed while on the go, but report persistent login failures and authentication loops prevent access to paid subscriber content.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Local news coverage provides a reliable source for staying informed while on the go
- Persistent login failures and authentication loops prevent access to paid subscriber content
60 of 64 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Upset overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for SC Times
How's the News market?
The app maintains a 4.09 rating on iOS but struggles with a 3.53 rating on Android, signaling technical instability across platforms. The gap between free access and paid content is currently obstructed by login failures, undermining the premium subscription value.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By Particle Media Inc.
Dominates the local news aggregation space with massive scale and a high-frequency release cadence that dwarfs traditional local publishers.
- Aggregates hyper-local content from thousands of sources rather than relying on a single newsroom's output
- Utilizes algorithmic personalization to surface community-specific alerts that traditional local apps fail to prioritize
- Maintains a high-velocity release cycle with 27 updates in six months to rapidly iterate on engagement
Unlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for SC Times
Where is it heading?
The local news market is consolidating around high-velocity aggregators, leaving traditional publishers exposed if they cannot match the technical reliability of their digital-first rivals. The app's current maintenance-mode cadence fails to address the authentication and ad-density complaints, signaling further subscriber erosion in the coming quarters.
- Persistent login failures in the latest version prevent paid content access, leading to high churn intent among long-term subscribers.
- Aggressive ad-loading blocks article text, which directly contradicts the value proposition of a paid subscription service.
The SWOT
- eNewspaper digital replica provides a high-value retention hook for legacy readers
- Local editorial trust differentiates from unverified aggregator content
- Ad-free tier for subscribers
- Integration of live local video streams
Next best moves
Rebuild authentication flow because login failures are the #1 complaint theme → recover subscriber access
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's reliance on a print-replica eNewspaper is…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
Live broadcast video integration (available in WFAA but missing here) +1
Since the last report: The app has transitioned to a freemium model while suffering from severe technical regressions in authentication and ad-loading that are actively driving subscriber churn.
Bottom line
The app retains users through high-trust local content, but technical friction and ad-density are driving churn among paid subscribers, so the PM must prioritize authentication stability and ad-loading hygiene to protect the subscription base.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 3 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeReport last updated