CBC Gem
Canada's public broadcaster, free with ads.
Free
Free with ads · $6.99/mo Premium
- Olympics coverage
- CBC originals
- Live local CBC channels
- Canadian films
HD only3 streamsFreeSportsOriginals
$0 per month
Free TV that's completely legal
You can fill a lot of evenings in Canada without paying anything. These are licensed, ad-supported services plus the oldest trick in the book — an antenna.
No subscription
Ad-supported and free to use, no credit card.
Real licensed content
Studio films, live channels and CBC's full lineup.
Antenna add-on
Free HD local channels including hockey and the news.
Free streaming services
Tubi
Thousands of free ad-supported movies and shows.
Free
Free, no account required
- Huge film library
- Free live channels
- No subscription
- Tubi originals
HD only1 streamsFreeMovies
Pluto TV
Free live channels that feel like flipping through cable.
Free
Free with ads
- 100+ live channels
- On-demand movies
- News & sports channels
- No sign-up
HD only1 streamsFreeMovies
Over-the-air antenna basics
Step 1
Check your signal
Look up your postal code on a signal map to see which towers reach you and from what direction. Most of southern Ontario, Montréal, Vancouver and the Prairies' big cities get solid coverage.
Step 2
Pick an antenna
A flat indoor antenna ($25–$60) works within roughly 25 km of a tower. Beyond that, an attic or roof-mounted antenna ($60–$150) is worth it.
Step 3
Scan for channels
Plug into your TV's antenna input and run a channel scan. Expect CBC, CTV, Global, Citytv, and often PBS and other US networks near the border.
Step 4
Why bother
Over-the-air broadcasts are uncompressed, so Hockey Night in Canada and NFL Sunday games often look better than the same feed on cable — and it's free forever.
Want to know what to pair it with?
Run the wizard and we'll build a paid-plus-free combo around what you actually watch.
Find my setup