Editor's Review
CBS Interactive's app is a front door to the network rather than a general streaming service. Open it and you get a rail of current series, a live feed of your local CBS affiliate, and the network's rolling news channel. Recent episodes of network shows appear after broadcast, and sports coverage surfaces here during the seasons CBS carries.
The catch is authentication. A slice of the catalogue plays without any sign-in, but the live station feed and most full episodes ask you to prove either a pay-TV subscription with a participating provider or a Paramount+ account. Working out which of the three states a given title is in - open, provider-locked or subscription-locked - is the single most confusing part of using the app, and it is the source of a good share of the complaints behind its 3.82 rating.
Playback itself is conventional and competent: Chromecast output, captions, resume across devices, downloads where rights allow. Content is US-focused and geo-restricted, so travellers outside the country will find most of it dark. Treated as a companion to an existing cable or Paramount+ subscription, it does the job. Treated as a free way to watch CBS, it will disappoint quickly.
Features
Live stream of your local CBS station where your provider supports it
On-demand episodes of current network series after broadcast
CBS News channel streaming around the clock
Chromecast output, closed captions and cross-device resume
Sign-in through a participating pay-TV provider or a Paramount+ account
Pros
Live local affiliate feed is a genuine cord-cutter feature when it is available
News channel is watchable with no subscription at all
Playback basics such as casting and captions are handled properly
Cons
Which titles need a login is rarely obvious before you tap play
Content is restricted to the United States
Episode availability windows expire, so back catalogues are thin
Provider sign-in fails often enough to dominate recent user reviews
Questions people ask
Is the CBS app free?
The download is free and some clips, plus the CBS News channel, play without an account. Full episodes and the live local station generally require a paid TV provider login or a Paramount+ subscription.
Do I need a cable subscription to watch my local station live?
You need either a participating pay-TV provider account or a Paramount+ plan that includes live local stations, and the station must be one CBS carries in your area.
Does it work outside the United States?
No. The catalogue is licensed for the US and playback is geo-restricted, so the app is of little use while travelling abroad.
