CBS News launches new Apple TV app
CBS has launched a new Apple TV app designed exclusively for tvOS, featuring an interface that spotlights CBSN's always-on, original streaming news coverage and curated video playlists. In addition, the app opens up exciting new native advertising opportunities for showcasing custom content.
Users can tell Siri on Apple TV (4th generation) "Watch CBS News" to immediately launch the new CBS News app and start the full-screen, CBSN live stream with no authentication required.
The app's focus on live video helps viewers to never miss out on breaking news or the day's biggest stories.
Viewers using the app can, while watching live video, browse related videos, explore editorially curated video playlists, bookmark on-demand videos to watch later, and subscribe to topics they're interested in.
CBSN's average viewing sessions are longest on Apple TV, where viewers watch for 96 minutes per session on average -- more than any other connected device. CBSN continues to increase viewership, growing streams in the first half of 2016 by 90 percent compared to the second half of 2015 and by 301 percent compared to the first half of 2015.
CBSN sees the highest engagement levels on connected TVs, with almost half of all video streams originating from a connected TV device.
"Our Apple TV app represents the future of how viewers will consume and interact with video," Christy Tanner, senior vice president and general manager of CBS News Digital, said. "We are taking advantage of the platform's cutting-edge, interactive technology to offer a customizable experience."
"The CBS News app on Apple TV delivers the full breadth of our original reporting and live, anchored streaming coverage combined with a layer of editorial curation, giving news consumers unprecedented flexibility and access to the stories they care about," Nancy Lane, senior executive producer of CBS News Digital, said.
With this launch, Apple TV users will have direct access to CBSN's wall-to-wall coverage from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions starting Monday, July 18. Josh Elliott, Elaine Quijano and Vladimir Duthiers will anchor CBSN's coverage from Cleveland and Philadelphia, which starts at 7:00 PM ET each night. Coverage will span from inside to outside the convention halls to give audiences deep reporting on the events and issues involved in the nominating process.
CBSN is available on connected TV devices including previous Apple TV models, the CBS News mobile apps, and CBSNews.com.