If you are a Canadian who loves premium television, you already know about Crave (formerly known as CraveTV). Owned and operated by Bell Media, Crave is Canada’s definitive home for prestige television, acting as the exclusive Canadian distributor for HBO, Max Originals, and Showtime, alongside a robust catalog of blockbuster movies, Crave Originals, and French-language content.
However, unlike Netflix or Disney+, which are strictly direct-to-consumer streaming apps, Crave is deeply integrated into the traditional Canadian broadcasting ecosystem. This means Canadians have a wealth of choices when it comes to accessing the service. You can subscribe directly through the app, or you can get it through your traditional television service provider.
If you are trying to figure out the best way to get your Succession, The Last of Us, or Yellowjackets fix, this comprehensive guide will break down everything you need to know about crave.ca/tvprovider in Canada.
What Exactly is Crave?
Before diving into the providers, it is helpful to understand what you are actually buying. Launched originally as CraveTV in 2014, the service started as a budget-friendly competitor to Netflix featuring older TV shows. In 2018, it merged with The Movie Network (TMN), absorbed Canada’s HBO rights, dropped the “TV” from its name, and evolved into a premium powerhouse.
Today, Crave is the only place in Canada where you can stream:
- HBO and Max Originals (e.g., House of the Dragon, White Lotus, Hacks)
- Showtime programming (e.g., Billions, The Chi, Yellowjackets)
- Starz (Available as an additional add-on through most providers)
- Super Écran (The French-language equivalent for Quebec audiences)
- RuPaul’s Drag Race and its various international spin-offs
- Blockbuster Movies shortly after their theatrical runs
Direct Subscription vs. TV Provider: Which is Better?
Canadians essentially have two routes to get Crave: subscribing directly online (via Crave.ca or the app) or subscribing through a participating television service provider (like Bell, Rogers, or Telus).
Subscribing Directly When you subscribe directly, you bypass the cable companies entirely. You pay Crave directly via credit card or app store billing. Crave recently introduced tiered pricing for direct subscribers, including ad-supported options (Basic with Ads and Standard with Ads) alongside their Premium Ad-Free tier. Direct subscription is ideal for cord-cutters who do not have, or want, a traditional cable package.
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Subscribing Through a TV Provider When you add Crave through your cable or satellite provider, it is usually treated as a premium “Theme Pack” or add-on channel package.
- The Advantage: You get the traditional linear TV channels (Crave 1, Crave 2, HBO 1, HBO 2, etc.) on your cable box, meaning you can flip to them on your TV, set your PVR to record them, AND you get full access to the Crave streaming app using your provider login.
- The Catch: You must already be paying for a base cable or IPTV package with that provider, and provider pricing for the Crave add-on usually aligns with Crave’s Premium Ad-Free tier (often around $20 to $22 per month).
The “Big Three” National TV Providers for Crave
If you are looking to bundle Crave with your traditional TV service, the major national telecom companies have you covered.
1. Bell (Fibe TV and Satellite TV)
Because Bell owns Crave, the integration here is seamless. If you are a Bell Fibe TV or Bell Satellite TV subscriber, Crave is heavily promoted.
- How it works: Bell offers Crave as a standalone premium add-on, but it is also frequently bundled into higher-tier TV packages (like the “Better” or “Best” Fibe TV packages).
- The Experience: Fibe TV users have access to Crave On Demand directly through their set-top box interface, making it incredibly easy to watch without needing to switch inputs to a smart TV app.
2. Rogers (Ignite TV)
Despite being Bell’s fiercest rival, Rogers fully supports Crave on its Ignite TV platform.
- How it works: Rogers customers can add Crave to their Ignite TV package. It includes the linear channels (HBO, Crave, etc.) and On Demand access.
- The Experience: Rogers’ Ignite TV platform features a voice remote. If you say the name of a show (e.g., “The Sopranos”) into your Rogers remote, the system will
seamlessly pull up the Crave On Demand episodes, integrating them right into your standard TV viewing experience.
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3. Telus (Optik TV)
For western Canadians (and parts of Quebec), Telus Optik TV is a dominant player.
- How it works: Telus allows users to build their own TV packages using a “Premium Content” points system. Crave is typically offered as a premium pack. You can select it as one of your premium options without necessarily increasing your monthly bill, provided you have enough room in your current package tier.
- The Experience: Like Rogers and Bell, Telus integrates Crave On Demand into its Optik TV set-top boxes, and allows you to log into the mobile app.
(Note: Shaw Direct and Shaw Cable have historically offered Crave as well, though Shaw was recently acquired by Rogers. Their legacy systems still support the Crave add-on just like Rogers).
Regional and Independent Providers
Crave is not limited to the telecom giants. Bell Media has licensing agreements with dozens of smaller, regional, and independent TV providers across the country. If you subscribe to any of the following, you can add Crave to your monthly bill:
- Videotron (Quebec): Videotron’s Helix TV platform fully supports Crave and Super Écran, providing robust bilingual options for Quebec residents.
- Cogeco (Ontario & Quebec): Cogeco’s EPICO service allows users to add Crave to their TV packages easily, with full app support.
- Eastlink (Atlantic Canada & Beyond): Maritimers using Eastlink can add Crave as a premium theme pack to their digital TV service.
- SaskTel (Saskatchewan): SaskTel maxTV and maxTV Stream customers can add Crave to their lineups to access the linear channels and app.
- Tbaytel, Access Communications, Novus: Even smaller, municipal, or highly localized fiber providers carry Crave. A full list of over 30 participating providers is available on Crave’s website crave.ca/begin.
How to Activate the Crave App Through Your TV Provider
One of the most common points of confusion for Canadians is how to watch Crave on a phone, tablet, Apple TV, or Roku when they pay for it through their cable bill. Because you don’t have a specific “Crave username and password,” you have to link your cable account.
Here is how you do it:
- Download the Crave App on your device of choice (Smart TV, iPad, Roku, etc.).
- Select ‘Sign In’.
- Instead of entering an email and password right away, look for a button that says “Sign In Through TV Provider” (or something similar).
- You will be presented with a list of Canadian telecom companies (Bell, Rogers, Telus, Cogeco, etc.). Select your provider.
- You will be redirected to your TV provider’s secure login page. Enter the username and password you use to manage your cable bill or internet account (e.g., your MyBell or MyRogers login).
- Once authenticated, the app will unlock, and you will have full streaming access.
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Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Path
Deciding how to get Crave ultimately comes down to your current home entertainment setup.
If you have already cut the cord, do not want a cable box, or want to take advantage of Crave’s cheaper ad-supported tiers, subscribing directly through Crave.ca is your best option.
However, if you still enjoy live sports, news, and traditional television, and you already pay a monthly bill to Bell, Rogers, Telus, or a regional provider, adding Crave to your TV package is highly convenient. Not only does it consolidate your billing, but getting access to both the live, linear HBO/Crave channels on your big screen and full access to the streaming app on the go gives you the absolute best of both worlds.
Whichever provider you choose, Crave remains an essential service for Canadians who want to stay caught up on the most talked-about television in the world.
