The Spectrum vs KSL+
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Spectrum
Access in-depth local journalism, including community events, sports, and photography. Enjoy a fast, customizable reading experience with real-time notifications and offline access. Includes a digital replica of the print edition and access to other eNewspapers.
- In-depth local journalism
- Streamlined, fast-loading experience
- Real-time notifications
- Customizable reading experience
- Offline reading
- eNewspaper replica
- Access to USA TODAY and other eNewspapers
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From critically acclaimed storytelling to powerful photography to engaging videos — The Spectrum app delivers the local news that matters most to your community. APP FEATURES: • Access all of our in-depth journalism, including things to do around town, sports coverage from high school to the pros, and much more. • Enjoy a streamlined, fast-loading experience that makes it easy to view the stories, photos, and videos that matter to you. • Get breaking news, sports scores, and weather alerts with real-time notifications tailored to your interests. • Customize your experience by saving your favorite stories, adjusting text size, using night mode, or reading offline. • eNewspaper: Just like our print edition but accessible on your mobile devices. And access to USA TODAY and 200+ local eNewspapers. MORE INFORMATION: • Privacy Policy: https://cm.thespectrum.com/privacy/ • Terms of Service: https://cm.thespectrum.com/terms/ • Help Center: https://help.thespectrum.com • Subscriptions are charged to your account at confirmation of purchase and automatically renew each month or year, unless turned off in your account settings at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage your subscriptions and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to your Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription, where applicable. See "Subscription Support" in the app's Settings for more details and customer service contact information.
KSL+
Stream KSL-TV shows and live sports for free, without a cable subscription. Access on-demand videos, exclusive app-only content, and breaking news alerts for Utah. Enjoy features from local teams and popular shows.
- Free streaming of KSL-TV shows
- Live sporting events
- On Demand videos
- Exclusive app-only content
- Breaking news alerts
- Local weather forecasts
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Stream your favorite KSL-TV shows and sporting events for FREE, anywhere at any time! No cable subscription required. With the newly designed KSL-TV app, you'll experience: • More of your favorite On Demand videos and multiple live stream options • Exclusive, app-only shows and content, including the binge-worth podcast COLD: The Susan Powell Case Files • Extensive feature content from Real Salt Lake, Utah Valley University and KSL-TV’s most popular shows • Easier navigation puts thousands of videos and shows at your fingertips • Up-to-the-minute forecasts for cities across Utah Get real-time alerts and extended coverage of breaking news happening in your neighborhood. Download the KSL-TV app now to get started!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Spectrum at 65% against KSL+'s 22%. The Spectrum also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.3). KSL+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. The Spectrum sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. KSL+ asks for nothing beyond the download.
The Spectrum holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 159 and 230 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of The Spectrum's written reviews are positive against 22% of KSL+'s.
The Spectrum ships an update monthly, KSL+ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Spectrum | KSL+ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (159 ratings) — better | 3.3 (230 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 65.2% of reviews — better | 21.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 159 | 230 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 182 MB | 108 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | USA TODAY Co., Inc. | Bonneville International |
Customer experience
The Spectrum
KSL+
Bugs and requests
The Spectrum
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
KSL+
Reported bugs
14 issues- App crashes on launch (requires reinstall)
- Black screen on startup
- Notifications don't link to correct stories
- Videos fail to load or play repeatedly
- App won't rotate to landscape mode
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Audio missing from broadcasts
- Streaming freezes every few seconds
- Apple TV app stopped working (January 2026)
- Private Relay authentication issues
- Stories pop up on lock screen but can't be found in app
- Repetitive content during broadcasts
- Comment section interaction broken
- Feed takes minutes to load
- Like and report buttons too close together
Requested features
9 requests- Tablet landscape mode optimization
- Proper Chromecast/AirPlay casting support
- Share/social media integration for stories
- Fast forward and rewind controls
- Schedule display for upcoming replays
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Story search that matches notifications
- Landscape mode stability
- Volume normalization between ads and content
- Better notification-to-story navigation
In-app purchases
The Spectrum
- Monthly Digital Rate1 Month trial2 variants$9.991 Month
- The Spectrum Digital Subscription1 Month trial$16.991 Month
- The Spectrum Digital Subscription1 Year trial$69.991 Year
KSL+
No in-app purchases








