BBC overhauls News app

The BBC has overhauled its News app with a design, which it says allows users to receive personally selected and recommended content.

It is understood to have been designed in-house and uses an algorithm to combine top stories and most read stories with the targeted content, chosen from a range of more than 50,000 subjects, according to the BBC.

Users “follow” topics to personalise content

A My News section allows readers to tailor content and the app gathers further information when users “follow” topics within an article, via a list of suggested topics based on what they’ve read, or via a search box. Users can list subjects either by topic or chronologically.

The refreshed app also offers “mobile-first video”, live BBC World Service Radio, sign-posting to related articles, videos and photo galleries, and full-screen images.

More than half of BBC News consumed on mobile

It is optimised for Android Wearables and the Apple Watch and has been re-designed in response to its increasing popularity according to the BBC, which launched the app in 2010 and says today more than 50% of BBC News users consume it on mobiles and tablets. This is up from 12% in 2012.

Richard Porter, digital and editorial director for BBC Global News says: “Smart and discerning audiences are increasingly demanding tailored news at the swipe of a screen, and our mission is to ensure they always have instant access to the stories that matter to them most.

“The launch of the new app is the latest development in a steady stream of innovative BBC News initiatives which have completely redefined the digital experience across apps, mobile, desktop and social.”