Yahoo is bringing its news aggregation app; Yahoo News Digest, to the iPad with America’s sweetheart Katie Couric in tow.
The move marks Couric’s return to traditional news broadcasting, albeit on a digital platform.
The celebrated former news anchor will host a weekly Yahoo News Digest video segment entitled “Now I Get It” in which she will recap a popular news story from the past week.
Other updates as part of the app’s expansion include the ability to customise news updates and read extra content on topics such as technology and entertainment.
Previously users could only receive news updates at 8 am and 6 pm but now users will be able to determine when they will arrive in the morning (any time between 6-10 am) and in the evening (5-8 pm).
The addition of Couric to Yahoo News Digest makes her the first broadcaster to join the app. Couric joined Yahoo in 2013, after completing a stint at Disney-ABC where she hosted the well received, self-titled talk show Katie. She currently also serves as Global Anchor of Yahoo! News and continues to interview notable personalities – this year alone she has interviewed former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and current US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Yahoo News Digest’s introduction of a visual news segment hosted by a well-known TV personality indicates that traditional broadcasting methods are still alive and well in today’s live-feed dominated digital media.
Yahoo created its news aggregation platform off the back of its $30 million acquisition of Summly. The latter app’s creator, Nick D’Aloisio, joined Yahoo after the buyout and has since spent his time promoting the digital news platform.
Yahoo News Digest for the iPad is currently available for download via the iOS App Store.
