Report updated Apr 13, 2026
Times Union
For residents of the Capital Region interested in local news, investigative journalism, and community-specific commentary.
Times Union is a challenged news app that is available. With a 4.5/5 rating from 4.9K reviews, it faces significant user friction. Users particularly appreciate quality of local journalism, though technical glitches and navigation remains a common concern.
What Is Times Union?
Current Momentum
v202603.8 · 3w ago
MaintenanceThe Times Union app is currently in maintenance mode, with no major feature updates identified in the provided history.
Active Nemesis
News10 ABC
By Nexstar Media Group
Other Rivals
7-Day Rank Pulse 🇺🇸
No ranking data
Recent User Mood 🇺🇸
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
How Is The App's Momentum Right Now?
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What Are The Key Features?
Access to deep-dive investigations and commentary specific to the Capital Region.
Digital replica of the print newspaper available within the app.
Provides full access to news stories, investigations, and commentary across all devices.
Who is it for & how much does it cost?
Target Audience
Residents of the Capital Region interested in local news, investigative journalism, and community-specific commentary.
Pricing
Subscription- Free trial: 1 month free
- Premium tier: $14.99 per month
Uses a 'freemium-to-subscription' funnel, leveraging existing print subscribers by offering bundled digital access to increase retention.
Who Built It?
Hearst Newspapers
View Publisher Intel →Enrichment in progress
Publisher profile available very soon
What other apps does Hearst Newspapers make?
The San Francisco Chronicle
News
Austin American Statesman
News
San Antonio Express-News
News
CT Insider
News
What do users think recently?
High confidence · 4.9K reviews analyzed
What is the recent mood?
“Recent user voice shows a frustrated sentiment. Users appreciate quality of local journalism and digital e-edition experience, but report technical glitches and navigation and intrusive advertising.”
What Users Love
excellent local paper
good investigative reporting
Seeing the paper on my tablet exactly like the hard copy is excellent
What Frustrates Users
Sometimes it jumps sections then restarts
When i zoom in on an article it creates a new pagewiththat single article
Ads attached to news or commentary do not display appropriately, they delete part of writings
Constantly have to try logging in every time I want to read something
I’ve subscribed but I’m not able to access
What is the competitive landscape for Times Union?
How's The News Market?
How does it evolve in the News market?
| Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Grossing | #97 | ▼6 |
News Market Trend
News market trend & dynamics
Available very soon
The rivals identified
The Nemesis
Head to Head
While Times Union holds the edge in journalistic depth and exclusive investigations, News10 ABC wins on technical reliability and accessibility. For users seeking immediate breaking updates without a paywall, News10 ABC is the stronger digital utility.
What sets Times Union apart
- +
Superior depth in investigative journalism and long-form local commentary
- +
Offers a digital e-Edition for users who prefer a traditional newspaper layout
What's News10 ABC's Edge
- -
Stronger technical performance with fewer reported login and navigation glitches
- -
More frequent updates for breaking news and immediate local alerts
Peers
AI-driven personalization that aggregates multiple local sources into one feed
High-engagement community features including local comments and classifieds
The outtake for Times Union
SWOT Analysis
Core Strengths
- Superior depth in investigative journalism
- High-fidelity e-Edition for traditional readers
- Strong regional brand authority
Critical Frictions
- Severe technical instability (navigation/zoom glitches)
- High-friction authentication/login loops
- Intrusive ad rendering that deletes content
Growth Levers
- Capture audience from News10 ABC by offering better technical reliability
- Expand hyper-local community features to compete with Patch
- Improve aggregator discovery via NewsBreak
Market Threats
- High churn from paid subscribers unable to bypass login prompts
- Free alternatives winning on breaking news speed
- Aggressive ad placement degrading the premium brand value
What are the next best moves?
Resolve Authentication/Login Loops
Users report being unable to access content despite active subscriptions, which is a direct churn risk and the top complaint theme.
Audit and Fix Ad Rendering Logic
Evidence shows ads are 'deleting part of writings,' which fundamentally breaks the core product utility for a paid service.
Stabilize Navigation and Zoom Controls
Users describe the app as a 'glitchy nightmare' specifically when zooming or switching sections, impacting the e-Edition experience.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Video-centric reporting and live streaming (available in News10 ABC)
- Interactive local weather radar (available in News10 ABC)
- AI-driven personalization (available in NewsBreak)
- Hyper-local event calendars and community posts (available in Patch)
Key Takeaways
Times Union's investigative journalism is a powerful moat, but the technical execution is currently a liability. If I were the PM, I would halt all new feature development to fix the authentication loops and ad-rendering bugs, as these are actively driving away the high-value subscribers who provide the app's #91 Grossing revenue.
Where Is It Heading?
Declining
Upset mood label driven by high-frequency technical glitches and login failures.
v202603.8 update focused on stability, but user reports suggest core UX issues remain unresolved.
Intrusive ads are now reported to overlap and delete news text, indicating a regression in ad-tech implementation.