# KATU News Portland — user reviews

> 87 indexed App Store user reviews of KATU News Portland by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc, rated 4.40/5 from 98 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/katu-news-portland/id433508658/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/katu-news-portland/id433508658.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 75 · 4★ 10 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 9

## What do users think of KATU News Portland?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 👍 Good local news coverage
- 👍 Fast performance (historically)
- 👍 Well-written articles (historically)
- 👍 Nice graphics (historically)
- 👍 Easy navigation (historically)

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 App won't open
- 🐛 Freezes after ads
- 🐛 Never-ending loading issues
- 🐛 Confirmation emails not arriving
- 🐛 AI-written articles
- 🐛 Uninformed articles
- 🐛 Typos and spelling errors
- 🐛 Bias towards the right
- 🐛 App doesn't update
- 🐛 Issues with Wi-Fi connection
- 🐛 Black boxes instead of articles
- 🐛 No sound in live broadcast
- 🐛 App only runs in portrait mode
- 🐛 Looping advertisements
- 🐛 Left-leaning organization (per one user)
- 🐛 Right-wing garbage (per one user)
- 🐛 Sinclair driven news (per one user)
- 🐛 Trump TV (per one user)
- 🐛 Difficult main newsfeed page
- 🐛 Old and stale articles
- 🐛 Dated app appearance
- 🐛 Inconsistent content
- 🐛 Videos don't work properly
- 🐛 Layout not updated for newer iPhones
- 🐛 Ads redirect to App Store
- 🐛 Alerts don't open articles
- 🐛 Article links freeze
- 🐛 Stuck on tutorial screen
- 🐛 More graphics, less information
- 🐛 More scrolling required
- 🐛 Lags and freezes
- 🐛 More ads injected
- 🐛 Slow to load
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate
- 🐛 Text appears vertical
- 🐛 Not user-friendly
- 🐛 Unfinished Alpha version
- 🐛 Weather forecast issues
- 🐛 App is not finished
- 🐛 News feed with no organization
- 🐛 Too many graphics
- 🐛 Ruined a good thing
- 🐛 Necessary evil
- 🐛 Poor update
- 🐛 Embarrassing
- 🐛 Junk app
- 🐛 Garbage app
- 🐛 Useless app
- 🐛 Defective app
- 🐛 Annoying app
- 🐛 Frustrating app
- 🐛 Horrible app
- 🐛 Terrible app
- 🐛 Awful app
- 🐛 Bad version
- 🐛 Worst app
- 🐛 Disappointment

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- App won't open
- App freezes after ads
- App stuck in loading loop
- Confirmation emails not received
- Articles written by AI
- Uninformed articles
- Typos and spelling errors in articles
- App does not update automatically
- Issues with Wi-Fi connectivity
- Articles displayed as black boxes
- No sound during live broadcasts
- App only supports portrait mode
- Advertisements loop continuously
- App redirects to the App Store
- Alerts do not link to correct articles
- Article links freeze
- App gets stuck on tutorial screens
- Increased graphics leading to less information
- Excessive scrolling required
- App lags and freezes intermittently
- Ads are frequently injected
- Slow loading times
- Difficult navigation
- Text displayed vertically
- App not user-friendly
- App development appears incomplete
- Weather forecast feature crashes the app
- App lacks landscape mode support on iPad
- Current temperature shows '?'
- Missing current forecast text
- News feed lacks organization
- App appearance is dated
- Inconsistent content displayed
- Videos do not function correctly
- Layout not optimized for newer iPhones
- App redirects to App Store for other apps
- App crashes when opening stories
- Old version was preferred
- App not working on iPad
- Instruction pages are the only accessible content
- App stopped working after an update
- News feed inaccessible after update
- App is slow to load
- Too many graphics
- Difficult to navigate
- App has become a step backward
- More ads are injected
- App lags significantly
- App frequently freezes
- App removed ability to navigate back from stories
- App stuck after selecting a story
- Video quality is good but links are an issue
- App content is not updating
- Local news section is good but overall app has issues
- App crashes upon opening stories
- App is not user-friendly
- App has issues with fast switching
- App reloads entirely when opened
- Text appears vertically
- Reading is impossible due to text orientation
- Bug in text orientation needs immediate fix
- Old app version was better
- New app version has issues
- App crashes every time a story is opened
- App is not user-friendly
- App is easy to get to other news stories
- App delivers KATU news
- Restaurant Report Card feature is missing
- App has no bugs experienced by some users
- App does not reload each time it's opened
- App is fine
- App has no bugs
- App is enjoyable
- No problems with the new app
- App has fast switching capabilities
- App does not reload each time it's opened
- App is a disaster
- Text appears vertical
- Reading is impossible
- Bug needs to be fixed ASAP
- App is not flooded with negative feedback
- Old Katu news app is still usable
- New app is fixed
- App gets through Apple's review
- App is unusable
- App is a time-waster
- App is completely stuck on tutorial
- App is worthless
- App automatically redirects to App Store
- App cannot read stories
- App is useless
- App gets stuck in a continue loop of being routed to the App Store
- App is useless
- Ads keep opening constantly
- Cannot get past first article
- IT team shows little regard for fixing app
- Terrible functionality
- Alerts rarely correctly link to story
- Newsfeed stories have hidden links to ads
- Really poor update
- Tutorial screens with no way out
- App not tested on iPad
- App acts like an iPhone app only
- App displays in portrait mode on iPad
- App runs noticeably slower
- App mostly generic national news
- App is useless
- App is the worst app
- No landscape mode
- App does not do anything
- App is not worth it
- App is not user friendly
- App is easier to get around in
- App format was changed
- App has become painful to use
- App has been deleted
- Competitor's app is more user friendly
- App has not worked for months on iPad
- Updates are not working
- Instruction pages can only be swiped
- App used to work well
- App stopped working after update
- Update disabled access to view news feed
- Accidentally touched something while using first time
- Cannot see any news feeds
- Hate latest update
- App no longer allows viewing news feed
- App used to be liked
- App is being deleted
- Weather halfway comes up
- Weather part is harder to navigate
- Too much news feed with no organization
- Not worth space on phone
- Hire a professional
- Used interns or high school kid to develop update
- Usability research needed
- Dumping garbage on audience
- Deserve better from KATU
- Giving one star because zero stars not choice
- Deleting app because version is that bad
- Slow to load
- Too many graphics
- Difficult to navigate
- Ruined a good thing
- New version is a step backward
- New version is a step backward in speed
- New version is a step backward in ease of use
- More graphics means less information
- More scrolling
- Lags a lot more than older version
- Frequently freezes for a few seconds
- More ads injected
- App is a necessary evil
- Simple, clean, user friendly
- Straight to the point
- Don't update with horrid update
- Needs more work
- Actual link to story when told to see site
- App removed ability to go back from first news story
- App is stuck
- One of the best news apps
- Video links in stories
- Great quality video
- Easy to navigate
- Primary source of news
- Beats out Oregonlive app, Kptv
- Previously sucked, now it really works
- Glad it was improved
- Stopped updating content
- Get news elsewhere
- Local feed is liked
- Works well
- Not crashing
- Local Camas news section
- New version has issues
- Crashing every time opening story
- Liked old version better
- User friendly
- Easy to get to other news stories
- Does what it should do
- Similar format to Katu website
- Delivers Katu news to idevice
- Restaurant Report Card missing
- Great information on hand
- Haven't experienced any bugs
- Don't see what was wrong with previous app
- Enjoy KATU
- No problems with new one
- Fast switching capabilities
- Not reloading the app each time it's opened
- Text appears vertical instead of normally horizontal
- Reading is impossible
- Bug needs to be fixed ASAP
- Not flooded with negative feedback
- Old Katu news app is still usable
- New app is fixed
- App gets through Apple's review

**Most requested features**

- Fix auto updates
- Fix app crashes after ads
- Fix confirmation email delivery
- Fix AI article writing
- Fix typos and spelling errors
- Fix bias in reporting
- Fix Wi-Fi connection issues
- Fix black boxes in articles
- Fix sound in live broadcast
- Fix portrait mode only issue
- Fix looping advertisements
- Fix main newsfeed page layout
- Fix stale articles
- Fix dated app appearance
- Fix inconsistent content
- Fix video playback
- Fix layout for newer iPhones
- Fix ads redirecting to App Store
- Fix alerts not opening articles
- Fix article links freezing
- Fix tutorial screen issues
- Improve speed and reduce scrolling
- Reduce ads
- Fix slow loading
- Improve navigation
- Fix vertical text display
- Make app user-friendly
- Complete the app development
- Fix weather forecast issues
- Add landscape mode support
- Fix restaurant report card
- Enable fast switching capabilities
- Fix bugs in app
- Fix app not updating
- Fix app not opening
- Fix app freezing after ads
- Fix app not opening past logo page
- Fix app crashing immediately
- Fix app not loading past white logo screen
- Fix app crashing when opening weather forecast
- Fix ads appearing as black rectangles
- Fix black boxes with no text
- Fix no sound in live broadcast
- Fix app not re-orienting to landscape
- Fix commercial advertisement looping
- Fix app not allowing to get to stories
- Fix lies from left-leaning organization
- Fix right wing garbage
- Fix biased Sinclair driven news
- Fix Trump TV
- Fix difficult newsfeed page
- Fix old and stale articles
- Fix awful app for KATU
- Fix pop-up with news, but article not found
- Fix search results for old articles
- Fix underlying code
- Fix landscape mode on iPad
- Fix current temperature displaying '?'
- Fix no current forecast text
- Fix app not finished
- Fix weather part harder to navigate
- Fix too much news feed with no organization
- Fix slow to load
- Fix too many graphics
- Fix difficult to navigate
- Fix ruined a good thing
- Fix lags and freezes
- Fix more ads injected
- Fix app is a necessary evil
- Fix poor update
- Fix embarrassing app
- Fix junk app
- Fix garbage app
- Fix unusable app
- Fix defective app
- Fix annoying app
- Fix frustrating app
- Fix horrible app
- Fix terrible app
- Fix awful app
- Fix bad version
- Fix worst app
- Fix disappointment
- Fix app not working on iPad
- Fix instruction pages only swipable
- Fix app stopped working after update
- Fix disabled access to view news feed
- Fix accidental touch during first time use
- Fix hate latest update
- Fix not worth space on phone
- Fix hire a professional
- Fix interns or high school kid developed update
- Fix usability research
- Fix dumping garbage on audience
- Fix deserve better
- Fix one star because zero stars not choice
- Fix deleting app because version is bad
- Fix step backward in speed
- Fix step backward in ease of use
- Fix more graphics means less information
- Fix more scrolling
- Fix lags a lot more
- Fix frequently freezes
- Fix more ads injected
- Fix simple, clean, user friendly
- Fix straight to the point
- Fix don't update with horrid update
- Fix needs more work
- Fix actual link to story when told to see site
- Fix removed ability to go back from first news story
- Fix stuck
- Fix best news apps ever used
- Fix video links in stories
- Fix great quality video
- Fix easy to navigate
- Fix primary source of news
- Fix beats out Oregonlive app, Kptv
- Fix previously sucked, now it really works
- Fix glad it was improved
- Fix stopped updating content
- Fix get news elsewhere
- Fix local feed is liked
- Fix works well
- Fix not crashing
- Fix local Camas news section
- Fix new version has issues
- Fix crashing every time opening story
- Fix liked old version better
- Fix user friendly
- Fix easy to get to other news stories
- Fix does what it should do
- Fix similar format to Katu website
- Fix delivers Katu news to idevice
- Fix restaurant report card
- Fix great information on hand
- Fix haven't experienced any bugs
- Fix don't see what was wrong with previous app
- Fix enjoy KATU
- Fix no problems with new one
- Fix fast switching capabilities
- Fix not reloading app each time opened
- Fix text appears vertical instead of horizontal
- Fix reading impossible
- Fix bug needs to be fixed ASAP
- Fix not flooded with negative feedback
- Fix old Katu news app
- Fix new app is fixed
- Fix gets through Apple's review

## Newest reviews (19 of 87)

### 2/5 — Going downhill.

*2026-07-03*

KATU used to be the best news app for local news in the Portland area. I live on the outer edge of the metro area and other local news outlets would never cover things that happened in my town, except KATU. 

Unfortunately the app is now very difficult to navigate without constant pop ups for videos that don’t exist, graphics that don’t match up to the story, and lots of typos. 

Even worse, they have given up on actual investigative reporting like KATU on your side. Instead, they focus on right wing narratives like endless stories about fraud in Minnesota. Their right wing shift has attracted commenters that say all kinds of hateful things about transgender people, gay people and people of color. It’s amazing to me that KATU allows such terrible things on its platform.

### 2/5 — News Alerts

*2026-06-10*

I appreciate getting news alerts on my phone but they are quite delayed. I just
Got one that Carmelo Anthony was indicted for a stabbing. That’s old news. He was found guilty yesterday. Yesterday I received one about the Sandy police officer being shot. That’s been a couple of weeks ago and I also got one about 12 being shot at a festival in Ohio. Again, old news. Someone needs to check notification timing. Super annoying.

### 2/5 — Accessibility

*2024-08-03*

I am blind and VoiceOver on my iPhone we’re not read the app no more and it used to work for it please fix it. Thank you.

### 2/5 — Sheesh.

*2023-06-07, version 8.6.3*

You would hope a large ABC affiliate would know basic spelling at least… I’ve seen too many typos on this app to care anymore. 

It always seems like the app is managed by an unsupervised intern who wishes they worked for Vice or Buzzfeed.

### 3/5 — Fox News Lite

*2022-12-10*

KATU has an easy to use app without a lot of ads, and is good about reporting local news that OregonLive fails to cover. 

Unfortunately KATU seems to be slowly and surely being biased towards the right. They are increasing their coverage of national politics with stories that are only on Fox News and other right leaning news organizations. 

I will continue to use the KATU news app, but with caution, because it’s pretty obvious where they stand and what their agenda is. Too bad they can’t just report the news without trying to brainwash us.

### 2/5 — Latest Update Broke the App

*2022-12-04, version 8.4.2*

The most recent update last week broke the app. It no longer loads past the white logo screen.

### 3/5 — I can’t go to Portland as to scan for animals and humans that are missing!

*2021-06-05, version 7.35.0*

I don’t live near Portland!

### 1/5 — Update app and website

*2021-04-09, version 7.34.0*

This app was almost as bad as watching the news online. If my phone moved the slightest, the entire story starts again. And with all the commercials, you would think they could afford to fix these issues.

### 3/5 — Bad update

*2020-09-17, version 7.30.0*

After the most recent update I can’t open the weather forecast, it just crashes the app.

### 2/5 — Bad format, last update made it worse

*2020-02-27*

I don't use the app much lately.  The format isn't very good on mobile and lately I try to read an article but as I scroll down only ads are there.  Chunks where maybe an article would be are just black rectangles with no text in them.

### 1/5 — New format is unreadable

*2020-02-27, version 7.27.0*

Went to catch up on the headlines and every story was nothing but a black box. There was zero content and the entire site is devoid of any stories.  Worst update ever!  Please fix this or switch back to the old format.

### 2/5 — No sound

*2020-01-17, version 7.26.0*

When I go to watch the live broadcast there’s never any sound the video plays but you can’t hear anything

### 1/5 — App only runs in portrait mode. Defective.

*2019-07-15, version 7.16.0*

App only runs in portrait mode. No adjustment available in settings. Totally useless for my use. Will not bother to go past first screen.

### 1/5 — Frustrating

*2019-03-11, version 7.12.0*

When I open the app there is a “commercial advertisement” that takes over whatever I am trying to link to and just keeps looping and no matter how many times I click it to make it disappear it reactivates and starts looping again. I can’t get to any stories.

### 1/5 — Garbage

*2018-06-06, version 7.3.0*

Download this app if you love hearing lies from a left leaning organization.

### 1/5 — No sound

*2018-05-09, version 7.3.0*

What good is it if you cannot hear the news.

### 1/5 — Biased Sinclair driven news

*2018-04-21, version 7.3.0*

Bottom Line with Boris an abomination

### 1/5 — Right wing garbage

*2018-04-02, version 7.3.0*

This station delivers script straight from Sinclair and purports to be “news”, much like FOX. Be an informed citizen and get the real honest scoop elsewhere.

### 1/5 — Sinclair Broadcasting = Trump TV

*2018-04-01, version 7.3.0*

Sinclair is Trump TV. If that’s what your into, then this is the place for you. 
BTW... You don’t have to worry about “Fake News” on Sinclair Stations, as they pride themselves on being the only local news stations that can navigate you through the fake news waters.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — News leans right

*2026-07-28*

For a local station, I’m disappointed that national news reported on this app leans conservative.

### 1/5 — Everything Katu is -5 stars

*2025-08-27*

Their app is awful, their website is awful and their “reporters” use AI to write their uninformed articles. Emailed and got a resonance that made no legible sense. As someone who thought I have limited skills and am stuck in retail it is good to know I’m smarter than the people who work for KATU. There’s hope for me yet.

### 1/5 — Everything Katu is -5 stars

*2025-08-24*

Their app is awful, their website is awful and their “reporters” use AI ton write their uninformed articles.

### 1/5 — Does not update

*2025-03-19*

Consistent problem with auto updates

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work

*2024-12-31*

Moving to another, more reliable, news source. KATU’s repeated failures with their app is more than I’m willing to tolerate any longer.

The app either slips into a never ending loading issue (constant loading bar, no broadcast, or crashes after every ad.

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work

*2024-12-27*

Used to play seamlessly, now it freezes immediately after an ad. 

Pass on this app.

### 1/5 — Disappointed

*2024-11-19*

I have tried to create an account for a while now but no matter how many times I try, the confirmation email never arrives. You would have more customers than you do now, except your platform doesn’t function correctly. I will switch to Fox.

### 1/5 — Is there a way to give ZERO stars?

*2023-01-27, version 8.5.1*

This is one of the most useless TVcontent apps that I’ve ever encountered.

### 1/5 — The last update did broke this app!

*2023-01-05*

The update made this app so using it will not go past the white logo page. Unless you use wi-fi connection . At this point you might as well use your tv to watch the news or video. The whole point to have this app on your mobile devices is to have on the go and your Wi-Fi doesn’t follow you everywhere you go.

### 1/5 — Won’t open!

*2022-12-19, version 8.5.1*

Crashes immediately when trying to open & is, therefore, useless!

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — News Satisfaction

*2018-04-03, version 7.3.0*

Just what I need for my hourly/daily news! I have watched KATU for years. I love the chemistry of both the morning and evening groups!

### 5/5 — Great update from KATU

*2017-09-03*

Fine job, easy navigation, fast. Especially nice to have one finger map panning, and all the stories are well written with journalistic integrity. A true pleasure to use your new app!

**Developer response:** Hi -
Thanks for the great review!  Please do check back from time to time as we will be releasing improvements throughout the year!  I will make sure that I share your comments with the development team.  Jeff

### 5/5 — Wow!!

*2017-07-15, version 7.0.4*

First off, I want to say thank you for updating the app and fixing the interface. I really love the app this time 
Thank you

### 5/5 — Crashes

*2017-06-30, version 7.0.3*

Update works great. :)

### 5/5 — Update fixed it

*2017-06-30, version 7.0.3*

After update it works wonderful ty for fixing it

### 5/5 — Like

*2014-02-04, version 1.36.0*

Simple, clean, user friendly, straight to the point.  

Dear Fisher, don't even think about updating this with the horrid update on KOMO APP!!!!

### 5/5 — Great news app

*2012-07-18*

This is one of the best news apps I have ever used. Video links in the stories (great quality video too!), easy to navigate etc etc. This will be my primary source of news. Beats out Oregonlive app, Kptv and all the other ones

### 5/5 — Previously sucked, now doesn't.

*2012-01-15, version 1.12.1*

Previously sucked, now it really works.  Glad it was improved.

### 4/5 — Great app after bug fix!

*2017-06-30*

Great improvements on this app!  Was about to give up due to issues and bugs, but with the latest fix the app is working flawlessly. Nice interface and graphics, easy to navigate.

**Developer response:** Thanks for letting us know. Try the new version (7.0.2 or later). We had an issue that prevented the app from working on any 32 bit devices, but it never occurred for us before we shipped. :(

It's fixed now, and hope you'll give the new app a try.

### 4/5 — This should be an embarrassment for KATU

*2015-10-13*

[Amendment to my previous review below: All of my complaints have been dealt with and the latest version is pretty good.  Landscape mode on the iPad finally works.  The weather report is fixed and the app is stable and well organized.  I have raised my rating to four stars.  It would have been five but I cannot bring myself to reward KATU with the that high rating for finally doing what should have been done in the first place.]

This "update" is an unfinished Alpha version that somehow escaped into the wild.  Landscape mode does not work (this is an iPad version not an iPhone version so this is unforgivable). The current temperature consistently displays a "?" In the weather section and there is not current forecast text. The app is simply not finished, so I would wait for a new version if possible.  Unfortunately, I went with blind (misplaced) trust.  Don't make my mistake.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*