CBC has launched CBC Gem, the public broadcaster’s new streaming service.
First announced in September, the platform boasts more than 4,000 hours of live and on-demand programming, including access to 14 CBC channels and their local newscasts across the country. The service is offered in two tiers: a Free tier and a Premium tier for $4.99/month that allows ad-free on-demand viewing and a 24/7 live stream of the CBC News Network.
Exclusive to Canada, both tiers offer ad-free kids programming and continuous watching across devices, in addition to French-language programs from ICI Radio-Canada. All content is available with Closed Captioning, along with Described Video for most on-demand content.
“We are in the midst of a renaissance of great television programming, and we want to make sure Canadians have a place in this new world of globalized television—a place that is theirs,” said Catherine Tait, President & CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada. “With the launch of CBC Gem, our goal is to offer not just CBC programming but the best Canadian content from across the country by seeking out new partnerships with a wide range of producers, distributors and publishers.”
Those partnerships include Wattpad, the social storytelling platform, which will offer emerging Canadian writers the opportunity to create exclusive content for CBC Gem. CBC says more details will be revealed in the New Year.
Gem’s Canadian feature film offerings will also expand. At launch, more than 100 films are available to view ad-free, in partnership with Telefilm Canada, including Barney’s Version (2010), Deepha Mehta’s Midnight’s Children (2012) and Xavier Dolan’s Mommy (2014). New homegrown films will be added each week.
National Film Board (NFB) selections, including Indigenous projects, will be added in the coming year. Additionally, the streaming platform has acquired content from Canadian distribution partners like A71 Entertainment, Elevation Pictures, eOne, levelFILM and Mongrel Media, as well as international partners BBC Studios, Fremantle International, ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Sky Vision.
Coming programming highlights include the exclusive release of new digital-first, CBC original drama Northern Rescue (10×60), starring William Baldwin and Kathleen Robertson, starting Mar. 1.
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