Tribune-Review, known as TribLIVE, serves Western Pennsylvania as a leading daily newspaper, delivering local news, sports coverage, and community updates. The publication reaches readers through its website, mobile app, and eTrib replica, providing reliable reporting on Pittsburgh-area events, high school and professional sports, and entertainment. While readers trust its journalism and find it credible, some report experiencing challenges with subscriptions, billing, and ad-heavy content.
Overview of Tribune-Review (TribLIVE)
The Tribune-Review, widely known as TribLIVE, is one of the two major daily Pittsburgh newspapers, serving Western Pennsylvania. Originally known for its conservative editorial stance under late publisher Richard Mellon Scaife, the publication has evolved into a digital-first news organization under Trib Total Media.
It competes directly with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, offering hyper-local coverage of Westmoreland and Allegheny counties, along with comprehensive sports reporting on the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates. The platform targets local residents seeking breaking news Pittsburgh PA, community events, and high school sports coverage.
First-Hand Insights from the Tribune
To provide a comprehensive Tribune Review analysis, I tested their website, mobile app ("TribLIVE News & Sports"), and "eTrib" replica edition.
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Navigation & Content: The homepage is information-dense but navigable. Local news takes center stage, followed heavily by sports. The "Neighborhoods" section is a standout feature, allowing users to drill down into specific suburbs like Murrysville or Sewickley.
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Ad Experience: The free user experience is marred by aggressive advertising. Pop-ups, autoplay videos, and sticky footer ads often clutter the reading pane, making the mobile experience jumpy.
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Paywall & Access: Like most modern publishers, TribLIVE utilizes a metered paywall. While you can read a limited number of headlines for free, deep dives and subscriber-exclusive columns require a digital subscription.
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Entertainment Coverage: The Arts & Entertainment section is robust. For TV enthusiasts, their coverage is extensive—readers often search for specific insights, such as the bear tribune review articles by critic Rob Owen, which offer deep analysis of popular shows like The Bear alongside local cultural reporting.
What Customers Say in Tribune Review Feedback
Customer sentiment is sharply divided between appreciation for the journalism and frustration with the business practices.
Positive Feedback
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Strong Local Sports: Sports fans consistently praise the in-depth coverage of high school and professional teams, noting it often exceeds that of national outlets.
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eTrib Convenience: Older demographics appreciate the "eTrib," a digital replica of the print paper, for bridging the gap between traditional reading and digital convenience.
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App Usability: The iOS app holds a surprisingly high rating (4.7/5), with users liking the "text-to-speech" features and customizable alerts.
Negative Feedback
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Subscription Traps: The most common complaint involves the difficulty of cancelling. Users report being unable to cancel online, forced instead to make phone calls with long hold times.
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Delivery Issues: For the remaining print subscribers, missed deliveries and wet papers are frequent complaints on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile.
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Billing Surprises: Several reviews mention unexpected rate hikes after promotional periods end, a common practice in the newspaper industry that catches many readers off guard.
Expert Analysis & Trust Indicators: Tribune Review
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Domain Authority: The
triblive.comdomain is a highly authoritative news source with a long history. It is a verified news organization, not a content farm. -
Ownership: Owned by Trib Total Media, a private multimedia company. The paper has historically had a right-leaning editorial page, though its straight news reporting is generally regarded as fact-based and reliable.
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Media Bias: Media watchdogs like Ad Fontes Media generally classify regional papers like the Trib as "Reliable," spanning from "Middle" to "Skews Right" depending on the specific columnists and editorial board stances.
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Security: The website uses valid SSL encryption for all subscription transactions, ensuring payment data is secure.
Website Trust Score Table
| Source | Trust Score / Rating | Number of Reviews | Details / Notes |
| Apple App Store | 4.7 / 5 (Excellent) | 6.7K+ reviews | High praise for the mobile app interface and local alerts. |
| Google Play | 4.4 / 5 (Good) | 610+ reviews | Users appreciate the content but complain about ad load. |
| BBB | A+ Rating | 20 complaints | Accredited business, but carries complaints regarding billing and delivery. |
| Trustpilot | N/A | Low volume | Insufficient data on Trustpilot specifically for Trib Total Media. |
| Ad Fontes | Reliable | N/A | Generally rated as a reliable source for fact-based reporting. |
Pros and Cons Table
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Hyper-Local Focus: Excellent coverage of Western PA communities and news Pittsburgh residents care about. | ❌ Cancellation Difficulty: No easy "cancel" button online; requires a phone call. |
| ✅ Sports Coverage: Deep analysis of Steelers, Penguins, and high school athletics. | ❌ Ad Clutter: The free website experience is heavy with intrusive ads. |
| ✅ Digital Replica: The eTrib allows traditional readers to view the layout on tablets. | ❌ Billing Hikes: Promotional rates often jump significantly upon renewal without clear warning. |
| ✅ Verified Source: A legitimate, long-standing journalistic institution. | ❌ Delivery Reliability: Physical print delivery is inconsistent in some areas. |
Is Tribune Review Safe? Final Verdict
Verdict: Yes, the Tribune-Review (TribLIVE) is a safe and legitimate news source.
It is a verified publisher providing vital breaking news Pittsburgh PA relies on. It is not a fake news site or a scam. However, as a consumer product, it carries risks related to billing and subscriptions.
The journalism is credible, but the administrative side functions like a legacy newspaper: aggressive retention tactics, difficult cancellations, and escalating subscription fees.
Recommendation:
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Subscribe for: The best local sports coverage and community news in Western PA.
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Caution: Use a privacy card or virtual credit card for subscriptions to prevent unexpected charges, and set a reminder to call and negotiate your rate before the promotional period ends.
FAQ
1. Is the Tribune-Review conservative?
Historically, the Tribune-Review was owned by Richard Mellon Scaife and had a strong conservative editorial stance. Today, while the editorial page may still lean right, the straight news Pittsburgh coverage is generally considered standard, fact-based journalism.
2. How do I cancel my TribLIVE subscription?
You typically cannot cancel online. You must call Trib Total Media customer service (often listed as 1-800-909-8742) during business hours. Be prepared for retention pitches.
3. Does the Tribune-Review have an app?
Yes, they offer the "TribLIVE News & Sports" app for iOS and Android, which is highly rated for its functionality and ability to read the "eTrib" digital replica.
4. What is "The Bear" Tribune Review connection?
This often refers to TV critic Rob Owen's coverage of the hit show The Bear, or it may be a search confusion with the Chicago Tribune (which features prominently in the show's plot). TribLIVE covers the show extensively in its A&E section.
Sources
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Google Play: TribLive News and Sports.
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Better Business Bureau: Trib Total Media Profile.
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TribLIVE: Home Page, Subscriber Terms.
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Ad Fontes Media: Methodology.
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Reddit: r/TheBear discussion on Tribune reviews, r/chicago subscription discussions.
