Times Record News
By Gannett
Times Record News is a regional news app for local community members, offering articles, video, and a digital eNewspaper replica on iOS and Android.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
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.
For Local community members and news readers seeking both regional coverage and access to the broader USA TODAY network.
What does it look like?
Key features
Digital replica of the print edition, serving as a key retention loop for legacy subscribers.
Cross-publication access to USA TODAY and over 200 local eNewspapers, providing a content volume advantage over local-only rivals.
Push alerts for breaking news and weather, maintaining daily utility for the local user base.
How much does it cost?
The 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
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Naples Daily News
Columbus Dispatch: Local NewsUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Recent user voice shows a frustrated sentiment. Users appreciate responsive design and fresh news delivery provide a reliable daily information source for local readers, but report frequent application crashes and loading failures prevent users from accessing articles and the digital newspaper.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Responsive design and fresh news delivery provide a reliable daily information source for local readers
- Frequent application crashes and loading failures prevent users from accessing articles and the digital newspaper
58 of 58 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Frustrated overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 more frustration theme and 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Times Record News
How's the News market?
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.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
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.
- 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.
West Central TribuneContender
Brainerd DispatchContender
Rochester Post BulletinContender
Courier ExpressContenderUnlock 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 Times Record News
Where is it heading?
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.
The SWOT
- USA TODAY Network access provides a content volume advantage over local-only rivals
- Obituary section management (simplified list view) represents an opportunity to increase daily utility for older demographics
Next best moves
Audit authentication flow because subscription errors are a top-cited churn driver → reduce subscriber churn
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The reliance on the USA TODAY Network is a vulnerability…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
E-edition feature (available in Winston-Salem Journal but missing here) +1
Since the last report: 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.
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.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Times Record News worth paying for if I only read local news?
How does Times Record News compare to other local news apps?
Does the app have issues with subscription access?
What is a free alternative for local news updates?
Sources
- [1] App Store
- [2] Play Store reviews
Report last updated