Screens that show outdated or static content stop getting looked at. Research on digital signage consistently shows that dynamic, regularly refreshed content is what keeps attention, with studies reporting recall rates above 80 percent for digital signage messages, far ahead of static posters. The catch is that fresh content takes time to produce, and most teams do not have someone available to update screens every day.
News feeds solve that problem almost entirely. They update themselves, they are relevant to everyone walking past the screen, and they make a lobby, canteen, or waiting area feel alive without anyone lifting a finger. That is why news apps are among the most used apps in Castit, and why we have just given them the biggest upgrade so far.
Here is what changed: many new news apps have been added, all existing ones have been rebuilt with new settings and view modes, and the apps page itself has been redesigned so you can actually find what you need.
A redesigned apps page with better organization
Before we get to the apps themselves, the apps page in Castit has a new look. Apps are now better organized, with tags that let you filter by category, so you no longer scroll through one long list hoping to spot the right one. If you want news apps, you filter for news. You can also see at a glance which apps you are already using: installed apps appear in full color, while apps you have not installed yet are shown in grey. It is a small change that saves real time, especially now that the news category has grown considerably.
The new news apps
The new additions cover international, Benelux, and Serbian sources, so you can match your screens to your audience wherever they are.
International news apps
For offices, hotels, and public spaces with an international audience, Castit now includes:
- Al Jazeera
- BBC News
- CNN
- Fox News
- Google News
- Sky News
- The Guardian
- la Repubblica
These give you credible worldwide coverage on your digital signage screens, with enough variety to pick the editorial voice that fits your organization.
Benelux news apps
The Dutch-language selection has grown with several of the most-read news brands in the Netherlands:
- AD.nl
- NRC
- RTL Nieuws
- de Volkskrant
Combined with the existing Dutch apps, this makes Castit one of the most complete digital signage platforms for Dutch news content.
Serbian news apps
For screens in Serbia and the region, four major Serbian outlets are now available:
- Danas
- Kurir
- N1
- Nova
Whether your screens hang in a corporate headquarters in Amsterdam, a production facility in Niš, or a hotel lobby with guests from everywhere, there is now a news source that speaks your audience's language.
Updated and improved existing news apps
The news apps that were already in Castit have not been left behind. All of them have been rebuilt to the same new standard, with the full set of new settings and view modes described below. The updated apps are:
- Der Spiegel
- NOS News, NOS Soccer, NOS Cycling, and NOS Tennis
- NieuwsBlad
- Nu.nl News, Nu Business, Nu Sport, Nu Tech, and Nu Video
- Voorne-Putten.nl News
If you already use any of these on your screens, you will notice the difference immediately: more display options, more control, and a more polished look on screen.
How the news apps work now
Every news app in Castit, new or updated, now works the same way and shares the same settings. This consistency matters in practice: once you have configured one news app, you know how to configure all of them.
When you add a news app to your playlist, you set:
- Name and duration. Give the app a recognizable name and define how long it stays on screen, in seconds.
- View mode. This is the biggest visual upgrade. You can choose from eleven view modes: default, grid, cinematic, poster, newsroom, glass, flip card, magazine, stack, spotlight, and editorial. Each mode presents headlines and images differently, so you can match the style of the news to the look of your screens and the space they hang in. A cinematic layout works well on a large lobby screen, while a grid or magazine layout fits an office floor where people glance at the screen in passing.
- Light or dark theme. Pick the theme that fits your environment and your other content.
- QR code. You can choose to show a QR code for each news item directly on the screen. Anyone who wants to read the full article scans the code with their phone and continues reading there. The screen sparks the interest, the phone delivers the depth.
- Speed and maximum articles. Control how quickly items rotate and cap how many articles are shown, so the feed stays current and focused instead of cycling through old stories.
That is the complete setup. No design work, no manual updates, no maintenance. The app pulls in the latest headlines automatically and your screens stay fresh around the clock.
One app for everything else: the RSS Feed app
What if your preferred source is not on the list? That is what the RSS Feed app is for. It is a single app that handles feeds from many different news companies, and it comes with a ready-made selection you can pick from, including:
- BBC World, CNN Top Stories, Google News, Sky News World, The Guardian World, New York Times World, NOS Nieuws, NOS Sport, NU.nl, RTL Nieuws, De Telegraaf, AD.nl, Ars Technica, The Verge, TechCrunch, WSJ World News, CNBC Top News, BBC Sport, and NASA Breaking News.
And if the feed you need is not among them, you simply paste in a custom RSS URL. Any public RSS feed, from an industry publication to your own company blog, can run on your screens this way. For anyone searching for a digital signage RSS feed solution that does not require technical setup, this is it: paste a URL, pick a layout, done.
The RSS Feed app uses the exact same settings as the dedicated news apps. You choose the name and duration, select a feed from the list or add your own, pick one of the eleven view modes, set light or dark theme, enable the QR code if you want it, and adjust speed and maximum articles. One app, one familiar setup, unlimited sources.
Why news on your screens is worth it
News content earns its place on digital signage in almost every industry, and the reason is simple: it gives people something worth looking at, which means they also see everything else you put on the screen.
- Offices and corporate environments. News in the canteen, elevator area, or reception keeps employees informed and makes internal screens a habit rather than wallpaper. When people glance at the screen for headlines, they also catch your internal announcements.
- Hotels and hospitality. International guests appreciate news in a language they understand. A lobby screen rotating BBC, Al Jazeera, or la Repubblica alongside your own hotel information feels considerate and professional.
- Manufacturing and logistics. Break rooms and shift areas are ideal spots for news. It gives teams a reason to look at screens that also carry safety updates and production information.
- Healthcare and waiting areas. Waiting feels shorter when there is something to read. News content makes waiting rooms calmer and reduces perceived wait times, a well-documented effect of digital signage in healthcare settings.
- Real estate and multi-tenant buildings. Shared lobbies serve many companies at once. Neutral, high-quality news content works for everyone in the building.
In every case, the mechanics are the same: news draws the eye, and the rest of your content rides along. Because the apps update themselves, this is engagement without ongoing effort, which is exactly what most content owners need.
Try the new news apps on your screens
All new and updated news apps are available now in Castit. If you are already a Castit user, open the redesigned apps page, filter for news, and add the sources that fit your audience. Setup takes a few minutes per app.
If you are not using Castit yet and want to see how news feeds, RSS content, and your own messaging come together on one digital signage platform, book a demo and we will walk you through it with your own use case in mind. You can reach us through the contact form or by email, and one of our certified partners can help you plan and roll out screens in your region.
Your screens can be current every single day without anyone updating them. That is what these apps are for.