MSNBC: Watch Live & Analysis Reviews

by Eddie Štolen

There’s always been times when MSNBC freezes, there’s never been a rewind feature, there’s been several times when MSNBC flat out crashes, and while it’s the only app with which I have those issues with, I still use it because it’s still slightly more convenient when switching between streaming services to choose what to watch. But this new redesign DOES NOTHING to fix those issues, and then tags on a forced “highlights” feature that automatically kicks in after an hour or so and switches from live broadcast to short clips of earlier programming. There’s no way to disable this function that’s been added for seemingly no reason, and with all the other issues it makes MSNBC not worth using over the regular cable tv channel. (I leave this here because it’s not possible through the Apple TV. )

Más for the iPhone and iPad apps, they’ve taken away the screen in screen functions, you can no longer watch the news while working on something else, keeping you from multitasking.

You would think with as good as their advertising revenue is they would have a better app/streaming budget and would be working on making things better, but instead the apps just keep getting worse, like their app developer secretly works for Fox.

by Bound4Pleasure

this app’s app is absolutely THE WORST app of it’s type I have ever come across!! Live streaming is near impossible, with all of the freezing screens and restarts. I try to use it 4-5 days a week and over the last 2 years or more I haven’t live streamed a single episode all the way through. Just today Hardball stopped 20 mins in and never recovered! To watch the rest of the show I’ll have to wait until after either 10pm (or midnight, whichever is their policy).

I try to watch on different computers & phones with different internet connections but it makes no difference at all. The problem lies solely with this app!

Streaming past shows (not live) is somewhat better, but the selection of available episodes is ridiculously small. Like today (a Tues) the only available past episode is yesterday’s (Monday’s). Why would they not have at least 1or2 eps from last week. But this is their norm, not the exception.

If I’m already paying for the service why do I have to wait so late to replay today’s episode, especially considering that their crappie service’s failure is the reason I’m forced to watch the replay in the first place, instead of watching it live.

this app: Please spend a little less on fancy new sets at 30 Rock and a little less on big salaries, and invest in an app that actually works...like your competition does.
Potential customers: Request and demand a better service from this app before signing up for MSNBC!!!

by Rallon Sadcas

That leave it just plain annoying to use. Complaints are similar to other reviews here: inundation with web ads which are the same over and over and over and clip and cut over each other; app freezing; stream pauses; subtitles won’t turn off even though I never turned them on; subtitle dictation isn’t even close; app tile in launcher greys out; app won’t play picture in picture which means you lock up your iPad completely to use it. I have also used live stream on laptop and there in macOS/chrome/xfinitystream it comes down to which stream channel you choose: stream the channel mirror? Its the same as live tv with a 10 second delay and almost no issues Stream the digital this app live channel? Same junk as the iOS app. Accept one reality:this is a left leaning political channel. Win over millennials and their successor generations to your cause with junk digital performance like this? Good luck with that.

by Tlessly

I just recently downloaded your app because I like & trust you news. I was unpleasantly surprised to find out I can’t even watch ANY of your news shows without having a tv provider. I can’t afford cable, dish or even WiFi any longer due to losing my business because of covid, therefore I get all my news from my phone. I don’t understand why you only have 3 news shows set to expire & no way to watch them without having a tv provider! Isn’t this app a “NEWS” channel or app or whatever? If I can watch regular tv shows on NBC for a period of time without having a provider, why can’t I watch the dang news without one? This makes no sense to me & with everything going wrong in our country right now... I guess I’m lashing out at you because I can’t even watch news I trust!!! Damnit, why can’t anyone just do the right thing when it comes to their viewers or supporters or whatever we’re called??!!! Sheesh!!!!!

by TheBlaiddDrwg

The title pretty much sums up the review. Adult as others who have given a low rating have mentioned with all other hardware/software/connectivity issues ruled out on my end MSNBC still continues to be unusable 50% of the time. This is not a new app, and this is not new technology. There’s really no excuse for how poorly this at performs at this point.

I’m just glad that the SiriusXM app has an this app audio stream, because WATCHING the live stream through this requires far more babysitting then any other video streaming app currently available. On a secondary, less important but still irksome, note, there’s been a noticeable increase in the amount of time from the original airing of a specific show to that show’s replay being downloadable via MSNBC . Whether that’s an issue on the networks end or not, I couldn’t tell you, but it diminishes the iOS experience nonetheless.

This will be the third time I’ve tried to download/use MSNBC regularly, and likely my last. VERY disappointed.

by Dupeay4US

Ever since you combined the this app awesome app with your NBC Networks app, I have absolutely hated it! All the functionality of the this app App on its on is gone - MSNBC does not pick up the live stream Quickly once interrupted, I have to restart it constantly, it takes forever to load and even stream, and I cannot get to past episodrs with ease!

I do not care about your other channels - if I did, I would download their individual apps! Whoever thought putting a lot of great individual channels together into a single app was STUPID!!! PLEASE BRING BACK THE this app APP ON ITS OWN!! Thank God I can still watch this app ON ITS OWN ON MY FIRESTICK, or else you would lose a lifelong customer!!!!!

Bring it back and call it this app ONE or something! Why do we have to even consider your other channels at all? I know - because this app is your flagship so you want to lift the other channels on this app’s back! Don’t! STOP!! Give us our individual apps for the rest of us who don’t care about the rest of your channels!!!!!

by Howie Digital

Update: MSNBC has finally achieved perfection in freezing. It now NEVER plays video and has made me question this app on a whole. Do they not know millions get their news on smart devices?! , with apps that work. It’s a shame. It’s been a year of this and I give up. I don’t like the competition, but their apps work. Enough is enough, this app your app is beyond a joke.

For months I thought it was my Apple TV, my iPad or maybe my internet. I adjusted and fine tuned..everything. Conclusion the this app app is just shamefully poor to the point of being useless. It’s main feature is to freeze constantly, Period! You will not be disappointed there, that’s 100% guaranteed.. You never get to relax and just get the news or watch shows in one cohesive flow. Now, I love this app and their channel, this is not on them, it’s just this terrible app! My local channels live news apps are better and other national competitors work just fine. I wish they would put some effort and thus show respect to the viewers and their own journalists by getting this right.

by Voice Of The Customer

I don’t know who runs a this app app but it is a junkie application. It keeps asking me for my location every hour or so and then stops. Then for all of us sudden I get the wheel of death on the screen. This is a problematic piece of garbage that they have designed. I have the latest iOS and it seems that either this app doesn’t understand the inner workings of the Apple iOS system or iOS is far more advanced than the this app app but somebody needs to do something to blow up MSNBC and build a new one

If you don’t want these problems and you want to get this app for free you can Google rock in a rooster this app live and you will stumble across a relatively error-free European feed for this app that does not have commercials.

I think I may wind up going there and dumping Comcast because either Comcast does not share my identity data properly or this app is APM is polluted but somebody isn’t doing something proper and they should check it out because I see nothing but complaints about MSNBC

by Bcannon1105

this app is my favorite news source. I like to have it on in my office. I don’t have cable in my office, so using MSNBC on the Apple TV is the next best thing... EXCEPT i have to log into my TV subscription for authorization to use it EVERY two hours. After watching it for two hours it completely closes out MSNBC , and I have to re log in. All the other apps I use like this that require a tv subscription login stay logged in for weeks without me having to re enter my info. This is beyond annoying and frustrating. Please fix this. I can’t for the life of me understand how this is beneficial for them. If my HBO app that I pay $15 a month for on its own doesn’t keep their app on such lock down, there is no reason why a news app should be set up this way. You’re losing potential viewers!!

by Ugh Really Frustrated

I like MSNBC but am absolutely frustrated with it now. Did the update yesterday and now cannot watch it “live”. I haven’t updated on my iPad because I don’t know what the problem is and it Is difficult for me to find where to get help. Tired of all of the freezing (used cellular data to bypass this from searching for connectivity), tired of message saying can’t view and need to use cellular data (which I already do), tired of the repetitiveness of the commercials (if I’m already signed in with my paid provider, why so many commercial?) and the same commercial can play back to back up to 5 times, tired of the freezing (buffering screen) I have to close out MSNBC , swipe up to remove as prior viewed and restart. By the time I do this then I miss what I was watching. Like watching morning joe on my way to work and deadline whitehouse on my way home. I can no longer watch this due to the new update. Hopefully I’ll be able to get someone to address otherwise I have to find a new channel to watch. Thanks.

by RuthyVirginia

this app is by far my favorite TV channel because I feel the people’s hearts in the truths they tell me most every day. I love them and trust them to do their best to tell the truth as they see it.

The company itself, though, has become very controlling of its website and now MSNBC. I used to be able to watch for free on the web - now I have to have already bought into some of the most expensive cable programming available to watch any of it!

Just over a year ago I could upload segments for free and now it is very complicated to do so - they often even leave off the dates of the segments!

And MSNBC - it’s cool to be able to watch it on another device but you’re forced to watch the commercials and after a point you can’t even skip forward!

Is it really this important to you to make so much money off of us, NBC? Don’t you already make enough?

And why does everyone have so much to say that they can’t allow their guests to be greeted properly? Why is Rachel the only one left who allows each guest the courtesy of saying hello and good-bye? Not relaxing. The rudeness is stressful.

Thank you for hiring such wonderful, loving truth-tellers, this app. I would like you to make them more easily available to everyone. Doesn’t our country need and deserve that?

Thank you, Ruth Virginia

by MyGirlz#1Mom

We spend much time in areas we can't get satellite, so we rely on streaming when we are in the RV. App support was very helpful when I couldn't watch live on my iPad, and they made it possible. My only complaint is how long it takes to get episodes up on MSNBC . Since we are on the west coast, Morning Joe is over by the time we get up, so we can't watch live. We can stream on you tube, each hour is available almost as soon as it has finished playing. I'd love if this app would break the program up into hour-long blocks and make all available on MSNBC sooner. I don't know why the whole show isn't available, instead of just a fraction. I always (mostly) enjoy the variety of speakers in the program and you are short changing the viewers by not having the whole show availability. I'd much rather watch the whole thing on this app than some random Chinese channel on you tube.

by I Watch MSNBC Often

My rating would be higher if I was considering only content as I avidly watch almost all of the this app shows. I’d be willing to pay to avoid some of the ads that are repetitious, even sometimes in the same ad block, and never targeted to my demographic or interests. Freezing is a greater problem with MSNBC than any other I use. Also MSNBC does not remember where I left off watching when I return to a show when resuming MSNBC . I know this is a free app but this feature, present in other apps, would really help the older user. Kudos to your show hosts who are very skilled and interesting to watch. I would appreciate a little bit more national and yes international news to temper my strong interest in all things Washington DC. Thank you making this content available and please keep addressing the freezing problem.

by BizClassCustomer

I've been watching this app with MSNBC for many years, starting with my original iPad mini 1. I am now using the mini 2 and 5. While I agree with most reviews re: the buffering, commercials, etc., the content and navigation of MSNBC are excellent. Especially compared to the CNN and FOX apps.

I am so glad the tech issues are WAY better than in previous years. I still experience the occasional freeze or spinning ball, but no more than one might expect using any digital device.

In particular are the issues with live content v. recorded shows. I would sometimes wait to watch the recorded shows because they would stream better, and with fewer commercials.

Up until the last year or so, I had started watching this app live on my DirecTV app, which did NOT have the maddening tech issues.

These days, the this app app is working great for me...and on both of my minis. Politics aside, I’m a happy camper now. And I’ve learned to remove my airpods during commercials. ;o)

by Love Woody!

I love this app, and I have my favorite shows. However, I don’t have time to sit in front of the TV, which has made MSNBC perfect for me. I can start my show on my app, grab my earphones, and listen as I go about my chores.

While there have been times when MSNBC would quit (as stated in at least one user’s review), it still worked well enough that I didn’t feel the need to complain. However, yesterday it quit working at all with live programs. I finally deleted MSNBC and reloaded it—twice—hoping that would fix it. It didn’t. While it still works great with day-after viewing, I really would love to listen to real-time programing.

I don’t think it’s my device that’s broken because all my other apps still work fine. Please check on MSNBC and fix it. I would greatly appreciate that. 😊

by Lburg Lady

I keep getting requests to rate MSNBC and usually don’t because I am either annoyed at it when it’s not working or just want to watch my show when it is. The things that regularly annoy me are the sign in when it tells me “this show is not included with your subscription (it is!) check with your provider” or they don’t get shows uploaded in a timely manner. I generally watch the previous evening shows while I’m getting ready in the morning. It’s annoying when they aren’t uploaded. Also, I find it annoying that MSNBC doesn’t always remember where I am in the show. I shouldn’t have to make a mental note that I’m 29 minutes in and then fast forward and watch MORE commercials to get there.

Having said all that, I’m writing because I got so frustrated with the sign in problem that I emailed the help folks never expecting a response. I was pleasantly surprised to hear back from them really quickly and they were incredibly polite and fixed the problem. Since then, I still have to sign in more often than I’d like, but at least it accepts my sign in attempt each time.

Also, when I was searching for help I found the live stream that I hadn’t known was there. That’s also a nice feature.

So, your customer service earns an extra star. Make sure they know.

by Javabean505

All the excoriating negative reviews here left me confused, as I'm not experiencing any of the problems described. After giving this a bit of thought, I've come up with a couple ideas that might explain it.

1) Maybe my ISP is faster or more consistent than most. I'm going through Xfinity with a measured downstream in excess of 100Mbps. Don't remember what it's advertised as, but that's what I'm getting.

2) Maybe my TV provider (Dish) is better than most. Maybe their interface with this app is better than most? I never even have to sign in at this app anymore because MSNBC remembers my Dish account and apparently verifies it in background. (Using the iPhone app.)

3) Speaking of which... Maybe the iPhone app was separately developed from the apps directed at other devices and is just better.

In short, I don't get crashes, freezes, logging in over and over... Just doesn't happen. So, if so many others are experiencing these things, but NOT with other networks' apps... that does kinda go to the idea that MSNBC is maybe coded inefficiently or in some way poorly. You shouldn't have to have an A-list TV/internet setup to watch a news feed.

I hate to see this app take these hits on their website; they're one of the few entities holding this country together against the rising tide of lies and deceit. They need to be worthy of our support.

by Ceyou2

This is one of the few apps that I watch consistently for current political updates on the. Coronavirus, the insanity and incompetence of Donald Trump trying to act presidential, and news breaks as they happen. What I like best is it provides the facts in a truthful manner and gives insight into the misinformation and rumors circulated by the White House, internet groups, etc. It provides one with enough information to make a rational and informed decision and perspective on what is going on in the US and the as World. I can also access it on my SiriusXM on channel 118 in my car at any time. Love Rachael, Morning Joe Arbrie all of them except Josh. Keep the truth flowing about the threats to our democracy.
I can only speak for me.

by SIRJOH

I watch this app on app practically all day, from Way Too Early to the 11th Hour. But lately most of the commercials are in Spanish. Is bilingual TV programming hip these days?? There are some people who might be highly offended by this, however I am not one of them. To be honest, when I’m ready to buy something I’m going to do all of my homework not just believe what is loaded into my brain in between Morning Joe and Dealine White House. So the fact that I can’t understand them helps me to ignore them even more. I’m sure Verizon and Honda don’t want to hear that. The only English commercials I hear anymore are about cancer, sleep apnea and bowel problems. It would be better if you could just choose what language you want to hear programming in, to be fair all around. Otherwise please make all the commercials in Spanish, Cantonese, or any other language so I don’t have to pay any attention to any of them.

by Itsthepath

I appreciate news stories that seem logical, and details are important. The facts backed by proof are essential. The more facts I am given, the easier it is to find a flaw in what is being reported. I find no flaws in Rachel Maddow’s reporting. Rachel Maddow’s ability to present what came first leading up to an important news story makes her easy to follow even when the news story gets complicated. I am able to comprehend because she is a gifted and succinct communicator. Once I have the big picture, I am able to follow the news by going to many other different sources in search of more information. She is a role model for me in her ability as a communicator and she has integrity when it comes to reporting news that matters.

by Chico21115

Until a few weeks ago, I had no problem accessing live TV and podcasts on the this app app, but suddenly MSNBC stopped working. The problem is that an unresolvable error message now appears related to Location Services. MSNBC says that Location Services must be enabled, but IOS 13 and its 13.1 and 13.2 updates do not allow toggling anymore between the “Ask” and “Allow When Using App” options. As soon as I click on the When Using MSNBC option, it just keeps going back to Ask - rendering the this app app useless.

I spent hours working with this app TVE tech support trying to resolve the problem to no avail. Their instructions, however, did enable me to restore access on my iPhone 7 Plus to live TV on my CNN app.

I guess I will only be able to watch this app (which I strongly prefer to CNN) on my TV until this glitch is fixed via an app update.

by Live To Learn, Learn To Live

It’s a mixed blessing. If you cant watch the programming on your TV for whatever reason this is your best option. The DirectTV app cant stream this app when its having issues as well as this can, and that app runs the battery down faster.
The support people are polite but can’t do much about what’s coming (or not) from the servers. Sometimes the audio of a commercial plays over a program... sometimes it keeps repeating them Sam few minutes of program over and over, and sometimes the screen just goes black.
The most maddening part is that is always does this when there is an important story being broadcast... it will work all day and then just as someone is about to tell you something critical, it hangs up and doesn’t come back until that segment is over.
Right after school lets out for summer or a holiday is the worst.. second is weekends and after hours. The second string tech people must not be getting paid enough.

by UKRefugee

Unlike many people, I have a few problems but can generally watch consistently and with few problems. It might freeze for a while, but a quick close and re-open fixes that. I use an iPad 4 and an iPad 2 with little or no issues.

One thing tho' that baffles me completely is the ad serving. Every single ad break features truncated ads, either missing the beginning or end. I have been streaming all day today and pretty much every ad, in every break since I started watching Morning Joe, has cut off after about 20 secs, and before the ad ever declares who it is for, or comes in in the middle of the ad. I was an ad buyer for a while and I certainly wouldn't have been happy paying for primetime slots that never serve my client's ad to the point of the brand payoff. I want this app to succeed and if they can't even do the fundamentals like serving ads for a full 30 secs, God knows how they will prosper.

Update: V6.0.2
Wow! So far SO much better. Good job with the new UI and all the layout and new features.

Keep it up.

Thank you for putting some real effort behind this update. I have always been able to stream, but the quality and latency was pretty bad, and the stream would often hang for many, many minutes, if it worked at all...

BUT.. This version seems to have solved a lot of these issues and also given us AirPlay (thank you!!!).

Keep on keeping on this app.

by Bsngs

As did many others here, I left scathing reviews for MSNBC update earlier in 2019 that broke Chromecast functionality. I wanted to thoroughly test the v7.5 app update before updating my review.

The issue seems to be resolved on my iPhone 6s+ although the handoff from the phone to the Chromecast device is buggy. If the stream to my phone has started, it often does not transfer to the Chromecast.

My iPad 4 is too old to run the updated app, which apparently needs the latest iOS to run. The iPad 4 can’t go past iOS 10.4.

But, having said that, this app still has some explaining to do. SHAME (ding ding) on the developers for creating a mess by not testing MSNBC that caused the problems and upset so many loyal this app viewers, and SHAME (ding ding) on the developers for taking so long to fix the problem!

Finally, SHAME (ding ding) on the developers for not being transparent and explaining their screw up, and maybe even offer an apology! Not cool!

this app, please hire more competent developers. You are a major media player and this is what is expected of you. Not the amateur hour developers that caused the mess. Thank you.

by Joslotplayer

The upper 2/3rds of our channels. Hysterically this leaves none we want! We had signed up for silver to get STARZ as they also torque the wifi? i thought only phone service companies could do that. But cannot now sign in if you have a provider cuz I dont have it. I dont get this because the money rates for this small town with low rents was higher than the big city. They were more than paid for what they did so dont they just pay the providers in turn? Or why not leave the popular channels and renumber. Just so mad overall. They launched 2 low flying communications satellites yet no one franchised to set up service? Just any old handyman signs up and never shows. And no support. Huge niche here for the right company.