Is Crave Canadian?
Crave is a Bell Media streaming brand. Bell Media’s Crave page describes it as Canada’s prestige entertainment offering available at Crave.ca.
Canadian streaming services
Last verified:
Short answer
Canadian broadcasters and cable companies run most streaming apps that carry domestic TV here. Crave and CTV sit under Bell Media. CBC Gem and ICI TOU.TV are CBC/Radio-Canada services. Global’s app is moving to STACKTV under Corus. illico+ is a Videotron on-demand service, part of Québecor. Hollywood Suite’s site footer names Anthem Canada TV Corp. Netflix is the usual foreign comparison and is not Canadian.
What you are comparing
Netflix and Disney+ are the global apps most people mean. This page focuses on Canadian operators and apps built around Canadian channels and originals.
Some apps are free with ads. Others need a cable package, a phone/TV bundle, or a standalone subscription. Read each service’s own page before you assume you can sign up online.
Comparison
Verdicts use the digital services rubric, not the grocery score. A Canada region on a foreign cloud is not a Canadian operator. Notes about PIPEDA or the US CLOUD Act are not legal advice.
| Name | Ownership / parent | HQ | Data residency | Infrastructure | Pricing | Best for | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crave | Bell Media streaming brand. Bell Media’s Crave page describes Crave as Canada’s prestige entertainment offering and says it is available directly to Canadians at Crave.ca. | Bell Media is part of BCE’s media division. A separate Crave HQ city was not named on the pages we opened. | Crave streams to devices in Canada. Where account or viewing data is stored was not described on the Bell Media Crave page we opened. | Bell Media-operated streaming service with HBO, STARZ, and Canadian originals on the company’s own marketing pages. | Paid subscription tiers on Crave’s subscribe page. Pricing checked 2026-11-02. | Premium drama, HBO, and Bell Media originals in one bilingual app. | Canadian operator, data location unstatedConfidence: Medium |
| CBC Gem | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation public service. CBC Gem is CBC’s streaming platform for CBC TV shows, movies, and live channels. | CBC is headquartered in Canada as a public broadcaster. A separate Gem office was not named on the Gem homepage we opened. | Gem is offered to viewers in Canada. Geo-blocking for viewers outside Canada was not repeated on the Gem homepage we opened. | CBC-operated streaming app and website at gem.cbc.ca. | Free streaming with CBC content on Gem; premium add-ons may apply on CBC’s site. Pricing checked 2026-11-02. | CBC series, live CBC channels, and Canadian documentaries without a cable login. | Canadian operator, data location unstatedConfidence: Medium |
| ICI TOU.TV | Radio-Canada streaming service. The ICI TOU.TV footer credits CBC/Radio-Canada and links to Radio-Canada digital policies. | Radio-Canada is the French-language service of the CBC. A separate TOU.TV office was not named on the homepage we opened. | ICI TOU.TV says selected content is not available outside Canada on its geo-restriction notice. | Radio-Canada streaming platform for ICI Télé, ICI RDI, and French-language originals. | Free tier with ads; paid Extra subscription and seven-day trial messaging on the homepage. Pricing checked 2026-11-02. | French-language Canadian TV, sports, and Radio-Canada news on demand. | Canadian operator, data location unstatedConfidence: Medium |
| Global TV app (STACKTV) | Corus Entertainment owns Global Television. The Global TV app page says the Global TV app is becoming STACKTV while keeping free Global content and live news. | Corus lists Toronto-area operations on its about pages. A separate app team city was not named on the Global TV app page. | The Global TV / STACKTV apps target Canadian viewers. Data storage country was not on the Global TV app page we opened. | Corus-operated streaming app transitioning to STACKTV branding, with Global News live streams and Global series catch-up. | Free access to selected Global episodes and live news on the app page; STACKTV bundles may add paid channels. Pricing checked 2026-11-02. | Global Network shows and 24/7 Global News without cable if you qualify for the free tier. | Canadian operator, data location unstatedConfidence: Medium |
| CTV on Crave | CTV is a Bell Media television network. Crave’s CTV page says CTV shows and movies are watched on Crave with a free Bell Media account. | Bell Media operates CTV. A separate streaming HQ was not named on the Crave CTV page. | CTV streaming through Crave is aimed at Canadian viewers. Account data location was not on the Crave CTV page we opened. | CTV catch-up and live content delivered through the Crave app after CTV’s app migration, on Crave’s CTV page. | Free Bell Media account tier described on the Crave CTV page; paid Crave plans add premium channels. Pricing checked 2026-11-02. | CTV primetime and live viewing when you already use or plan to use Crave. | Canadian operator, data location unstatedConfidence: Medium |
| Hollywood Suite | Hollywood Suite site footer lists Anthem Canada TV Corp. as copyright holder on hollywoodsuite.ca. | Headquarters city was not named on the Hollywood Suite homepage we opened. | Hollywood Suite streams specialty movie channels to Canadian TV and online subscribers. Viewer data location was not on the homepage we opened. | Hollywood Suite markets themed movie channels and streaming apps on hollywoodsuite.ca. | Channel bundles through TV providers; direct pricing varies by platform. Pricing checked 2026-11-02. | Themed Hollywood movie channels when your TV or streaming package includes Hollywood Suite. | Canadian operator, data location unstatedConfidence: Low |
| illico+ | Videotron is a Québecor company. Videotron’s illico+ page describes illico+ as included with Videotron TV and Appli Télé packages. | Québecor lists a mailing address at 612 Saint-Jacques St. on its contact page. | illico+ is offered to Videotron TV customers in Canada. Streaming outside Videotron territories was not described on the illico+ page. | Québecor/Videotron on-demand platform bundled with cable and Appli Télé, plus third-party apps on Videotron set-top boxes. | Included with Videotron TV and Appli Télé plans on the illico+ page; standalone pricing was not listed there. Pricing checked 2026-11-02. | Quebec French originals and Videotron on-demand when you already subscribe to Videotron TV. | Canadian operator, data location unstatedConfidence: Medium |
| Netflix | Netflix, Inc., a US company on Netflix’s about pages. Not a Canadian operator. | Los Gatos, California area on Netflix’s corporate about pages. | Netflix Canada is Netflix’s Canadian service region. It is not a Canadian-owned platform. | Netflix global streaming catalog. Listed as a non-Canadian incumbent. | Paid plans on Netflix’s Canadian site. Pricing checked 2026-11-02. | The global catalog most people compare against. Not a Canadian option. | Not a Canadian optionConfidence: High |
Where there is no true Canadian option
No Canadian app on this list replaces Netflix’s global catalog size. Crave, Gem, and TOU.TV are built around Canadian channels, libraries, and originals instead.
Watching a Canadian service does not by itself mean your viewing data stays in Canada. Streaming privacy is governed by each company’s policy, not by where the shows were made.
Questions
Is CBC Gem free?
Yes. CBC Gem’s benefits page says you can stream shows, films, and live TV for free with a free CBC account. Premium ad-free streaming is optional and listed separately on the same page.
Is Netflix a Canadian streaming service?
No. Netflix, Inc. is a US company. Netflix Canada is Netflix’s Canadian region, not a Canadian-owned operator.
Can I watch ICI TOU.TV outside Canada?
ICI TOU.TV displays a notice that selected content is not available outside Canada. Read the message on ici.tou.tv if you travel.
Who owns illico+?
illico+ is a Videotron on-demand service. Videotron’s illico+ page says it is included with Videotron TV plans, and Videotron is part of Québecor.
Sources
Primary pages opened for this check. Company marketing claims are cited as the company’s own words.