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The CNN Weather app is here — CNN’s new standalone app that blends best-in-class weather and climate reporting with a beautifully simple design. That means users can now get the weather data they need from the people they trust, all backed by reliable real-time data designed to keep you moving and one step ahead of the forecast. In this edition of Inside CNN, meet Ben French, SVP of New Business, the man behind it all and learn why now was the right moment to launch the app and what makes it stand out from the crowd. 

What does the CNN weather app do that other weather apps don’t? 

There are three ways we hope to distinguish ourselves. The first relates to presentation. CNN Weather offers an eye-pleasing alternative to the biggest players in the space, which are overly cluttered and hard to read. The second way is through our live, expert-led coverage of major storms. Our newly expanded meteorology team will help you stay safe with live, social-media style vertical videos – as well as blog-like updates via an event hub. Finally, we are also offering a bit of “edutainment” – stunning stories that help you understand and appreciate Weather, Climate and the broader world of natural science.  

What is the driving force behind creating a weather product now? 

Our digital strategy calls for us not only to transform the way we offer our core news value, but also to expand our value beyond the news. In doing so, we can engage and guide our audiences every day. The weather is inherently a daily habit. Everyone – except for our lucky colleagues in Hollywood – needs to worry about the weather each day. Is it going to rain? Should I carry a jacket? Should I be putting on sunscreen? CNN has a long history of providing coverage during major weather events, so we are already a trusted authority. Now we can leverage that expertise and trust to create meaningful value every day in our customers’ lives.  

What feature do you think will make someone switch from their default phone weather app and come back to CNN Weather every day? 

When you open the app, you will see AI-enabled summaries of your local weather for both today and the week ahead. These are already getting a lot of raves from our early adopters. We believe this is just the start for how we can translate complex amounts of data and information and transform it into personalized, actionable guidance. 

How did you and your team work to create a balance between giving users a great experience, without being overwhelming? 

Teamwork and testing. We are very fortunate to have such a talented, experienced team – including our meteorologists, designers, product managers and engineers. This group worked collaboratively to develop this design and then tested it during our six-month pre-launch test period. This allowed us to get feedback directly on the experience, which allowed us to further refine and evolve it.  The result is a design that can gracefully adjust depending on both local and national weather events and appear deceptively simple, easy-to read no matter the weather conditions.  

Is this app free? 

Yes! The app is free to download and use.