The Athletic: Sports News

User Experience Report

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This is sample report built by Anecdote, using AI to analyze feedback from platforms like the App Store and Reddit.

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TOP INSIGHTS

A weekly roundup of The Athletic: Sports News's key feedback

Loading Issues

A significant number of users, approximately 30%, report that the app frequently fails to load articles or takes an excessive amount of time to do so, leading to frustration and a poor user experience.

Articles often take too long to load, and sometimes they don't load at all, which is very frustrating.

Subscription and Billing Problems

Around 20% of users express dissatisfaction with subscription management, including difficulties in canceling subscriptions and unexpected charges, which leads to a negative perception of the service.

I thought I canceled my subscription, but they kept charging me, and I couldn't get a refund.

Content Quality Decline

Approximately 25% of users feel that the quality of sports journalism has declined, with an increase in political content and a decrease in in-depth sports coverage, particularly after the NYT acquisition.

The app used to have great sports coverage, but now it's filled with political articles and lacks depth in sports reporting.

App Usability Issues

About 15% of users report usability issues, such as app crashes, freezing, and a cluttered interface, which detracts from the overall user experience.

The app frequently crashes and the interface is too busy, making it hard to navigate.

COMPETITORS ANALYSIS

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#1 USERS CHOICE

The Athletic: Sports News

The Athletic has received mixed feedback, with users expressing dissatisfaction over declining content quality and technical issues since its acquisition by the New York Times. Many users are frustrated with the app's performance, subscription management, and the perceived increase in non-sports content.

#2 RUNNER UP

ESPN

ESPN is heavily criticized for frequent app crashes, poor streaming quality, and aggressive monetization strategies, including ads and subscription upsells. Users are frustrated with the app's instability and the perceived greed of its parent company, Disney.

#3 Straggler

Bleacher Report

Bleacher Report has faced significant backlash following a major app update that users feel has degraded the user experience. Many long-time users are disappointed with the new interface, increased ads, and the loss of previously valued features, leading to a decline in app usability.

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Nuggets

Major Highlights of the Week

Loading Issues

The app frequently fails to load articles, causing user frustration and wasted time. This persistent issue undermines the user experience and threatens subscription retention.

Articles often fail to load, displaying an error message instead.

Subscription Problems

Users face difficulties with subscription management, including unexpected charges and a cumbersome cancellation process. This leads to dissatisfaction and potential loss of trust in the service.

I thought I canceled my subscription, but they kept charging me and didn't refund my money.

Content Quality Decline

There is a perceived decline in the quality and focus of sports journalism, with an increase in political content. This shift alienates users who subscribed for dedicated sports coverage.

The app now features political articles instead of in-depth sports coverage, which is disappointing.

Technical Glitches

The app experiences frequent technical issues, such as freezing and crashing, which disrupts user engagement. These glitches are particularly problematic on newer iOS versions.

The app crashes on my iPhone 16 Pro Max with iOS 26.

Ad Intrusion

Despite paying for a subscription, users are frustrated by the presence of ads, which diminishes the perceived value of the service. This could lead to non-renewal of subscriptions.

I'm already paying a healthy annual fee, and now the site is full of ads.

Content Personalization

The app's content personalization is restrictive, funneling users into limited story selections based on their favorites. This limits discovery and access to broader sports content.

The app funnels stories at you without allowing access to content outside your designated favorites.

Nuggets

Major Highlights of the Week

Everything you need to know about user experience

Loading Issues

The app frequently fails to load articles, causing user frustration and wasted time. This persistent issue undermines the user experience and threatens subscription retention.

Subscription Problems

Users face difficulties with subscription management, including unexpected charges and a cumbersome cancellation process. This leads to dissatisfaction and potential loss of trust in the service.

Content Quality Decline

There is a perceived decline in the quality and focus of sports journalism, with an increase in political content. This shift alienates users who subscribed for dedicated sports coverage.

Technical Glitches

The app experiences frequent technical issues, such as freezing and crashing, which disrupts user engagement. These glitches are particularly problematic on newer iOS versions.

Ad Intrusion

Despite paying for a subscription, users are frustrated by the presence of ads, which diminishes the perceived value of the service. This could lead to non-renewal of subscriptions.

Content Personalization

The app's content personalization is restrictive, funneling users into limited story selections based on their favorites. This limits discovery and access to broader sports content.

Quotes of the week

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The app has great sports content, but it frequently doesn't load, showing 'Something has gone wrong. Please try again later.' Developers need to address these issues.

BillSJ

The Athletic used to be a great source for sports news, but since the NYT acquisition, political articles have increased, and sports coverage has declined. I've canceled my membership.

Hot garbage pubs

The app's scores section is too busy and not user-friendly. It should be simplified like the CBS Sports app, which only shows leagues and teams I follow, separated by date.

Derka Flerka

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The quotes of the week

Hear from some of the most impactful users to drive changes

The app has great sports content, but it frequently doesn't load, showing 'Something has gone wrong. Please try again later.' Developers need to address these issues.

Candice Wu

App Store

The Athletic used to be a great source for sports news, but since the NYT acquisition, political articles have increased, and sports coverage has declined. I've canceled my membership.

Kelly Williams

Google Play

The app's scores section is too busy and not user-friendly. It should be simplified like the CBS Sports app, which only shows leagues and teams I follow, separated by date.

Koray Okumus

Google Play

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User Experience Report

Report Date

The Athletic: Sports News

Top Insights This Week

Loading Issues

Subscription and Billing Problems

Content Quality Decline

App Usability Issues

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Major Highlights of the Week

Major Highlights of the Week

Hear from some of the most impactful users to drive changes

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The quotes of the week

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