App Showcase: CNBC

What it does

The CNBC app serves as a comprehensive hub for financial news and market data. It provides users with real-time stock quotes, breaking business news articles, live streaming of CNBC television, and a library of financial podcasts. The core job is to keep active investors and business professionals informed with up-to-the-minute information across multiple media formats.

Where it shines

The app excels at delivering high-density information efficiently. The home screen features a powerful, horizontally-scrolling market data carousel (00:25), giving a quick pulse check on equities, bonds, and commodities. The seamless integration of personalized news within the watchlist feature (04:55) transforms a simple tracking tool into a custom intelligence feed. Finally, its multi-format approach, easily navigable via the bottom bar (07:37), allows users to switch between reading articles, watching live TV, and listening to podcasts effortlessly.

UX highlights

• Contextual Sign-Up: The app doesn't demand account creation upfront. It waits until a user tries a personalization feature like adding to a watchlist (02:46), capturing high-intent users without deterring casual browsers.
• Efficient Data Hub: The top-level market data carousel (00:14) provides a snapshot of global markets without forcing users to navigate away from the main news feed.
• Interactive Charts: Stock detail screens feature interactive charts that allow users to scrub through historical data and see specific price points and volume (03:10), a crucial tool for traders.
• Unified Content Navigation: A clear bottom navigation bar provides distinct entry points for different content types: News, Watchlist, TV, and Podcasts, making it easy to find a specific format.
• Actionable News: Articles aren't just for reading. Users can save them for later with a single tap (00:33), building a personal library of relevant information.
• Granular Customization: From the outset, the app offers deep control over notifications (00:07), allowing users to tailor alerts to their specific interests.

Monetization & growth

The app monetizes through a premium subscription called 'CNBC Pro'. This is not presented as a hard paywall during onboarding. Instead, it's a soft, contextual paywall encountered when a user attempts to access premium content like live TV (05:41) or exclusive 'Pro' articles. The paywall itself clearly lists feature benefits and offers both annual and monthly plans, with the annual option highlighted as including a 7-day free trial (05:45). This strategy focuses on converting already engaged users who are seeking deeper value from the platform.

Who it’s for

The CNBC app is clearly designed for serious investors, financial professionals, and highly engaged retail traders. The density of information, real-time data, and inclusion of features like pre-market futures and bond yields cater to an audience that needs more than just casual news headlines. Its multi-format content offering also suits busy professionals who might consume news via articles at their desk, live TV in the office, or podcasts during their commute.

Notes & opportunities

While powerful, the sheer amount of information and news sections can feel slightly overwhelming to a new user. The top navigation for news sections is extensive and requires a lot of horizontal scrolling (01:35). During the test, a purchase attempt resulted in an 'unsuccessful' error message (06:15), a significant point of friction that could lead to lost revenue. Streamlining the news categories or offering a guided setup could help users navigate the rich content library more effectively from the start.