The CBC revealed new policies that unlock free regional TV streams for Canadians using the CBC’s online and mobile apps. A quiet upgrade to the Canadian broadcaster’s Watch CBC service makes live and on-demand content available without a cable subscription.
Updates to the CBC TV apps for iOS and Android went live yesterday. Live streams of the CBC’s fourteen regional channels are now available to all registered users. That’s in addition to on-demand episodes of programs like:
- Heartland
- Dragons’ Den
- Murdoch Mysteries
- Schitt$ Creek
- X Company
- Rick Mercer Report
CBC TV Premium Subscription
The CBC also created a premium-level subscription service. For $4.99 per month, subscribers can watch all on-demand content without advertising. They also get live streams of the CBC News Network. Access to CBCNN previously required a separate $6.95-per-month subscription.
A memo circulated to the Canadian press, and reported by the Financial Post, explained the rationale behind the decision:
“Many Canadians are getting more and more of their content from digital over-the-top services like Netflix. We need to ensure our audiences can get CBC in the same way.”
This creates an interesting option for Canada’s growing number of cord-cutters. Local TV has long been an important requirement that kept people tied to cable companies like Rogers Communications. The CBC TV app lets people complement local content with the sports and entertainment content provided by streaming services like DAZN or Netflix.
Related: DAZN review for 2017
This Watch CBC support page provides more details for Canadians interested in the new features.
Chris Casper is a former tech industry product manager who escaped from California for New Mexico. Now he writes about science and tech while searching for the perfect green chile sauce.
