The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is set to launch an ad-free, over-the-top streaming service.
According to an internal memo obtained by MobileSyrup, the CBC will update its CBC TV app on December 5th, 2017 to include livestreamed content from 14 regional CBC stations. The CBC will also offer a premium-tier membership for $4.99 CAD per month, so that users can consume content without ads.
The premium-tier service will initially only be available to subscribers using the iOS or Apple TV CBC apps. The service is set to launch in April 2018 for Android devices.
“We’re also introducing authentication, allowing audiences to sign in with a CBC account and granting them access to more features,” reads an excerpt from an internal CBC memo.
A series of tweets — corroborated by the memo — from James Wattie a CBC associate producer, expanded on the service.
More details on the CBC "tiered model": pic.twitter.com/JinlcOiQ5p
— James Wattie (@jameswattie) December 4, 2017
Non-members will have access to full episodes of on-demand CBC programming until April 2018, when they will be required to create a CBC account.
Premium-tier members will not only get an entirely ad-free experience, but they’ll also have access to a livestream of CBC News Network.
Both free and paid CBC members will be able to watch content across their devices, and will also “be the first to enjoy great new personalized features we will be rolling out in the future.”
According to the internal memo, approximately 1.1 million unique visitors used the CBC TV digital service in November 2017.
“It is our hope that this new offering will entice an increasing portion of our audience to spend even more time with us each month,” reads an excerpt from the memo.
