CBS News Launches New Apple TV App with Exclusive User Interface

CBS News today launched a new Apple TV app designed exclusively for tvOS, featuring an impressive user 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, viewers can easily access the digital service's wide-ranging, anchored coverage and original reporting 24 hours a day. The app's focus on live video ensures viewers never miss out on breaking news or the day's biggest stories. In addition to the always-on live video, viewers can browse while watching to discover related videos, explore editorially curated video playlists, bookmark on-demand videos to watch later and subscribe to topics of interest.

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% compared to the second half of 2015 and by 301% compared to the first half of 2015. Additionally, CBSN engagement levels remain highest 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," said Christy Tanner, Senior Vice President and General Manager, CBS News Digital. "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," said Nancy Lane, Senior Executive Producer, CBS News Digital.

With today's launch, Apple TV users will now have direct, immediate access to CBSN's wall-to-wall coverage and real-time reporting from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions beginning Monday, July 18. Josh Elliott, Elaine Quijano and Vladimir Duthiers anchor CBSN's live coverage from Cleveland and Philadelphia, with primetime coverage beginning 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.

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