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CraveTV streaming service

243K views 680 replies 103 participants last post by  Peppermint P 
#1 · (Edited)
Please use this thread to discuss the CraveTV video streaming service, which is now available to all Canadians. The previous thread in the TV Providers forum discussing the initial launch through Bell and some other TV providers is now closed to new comments, but is still available for viewing.
Bell Media Launches CraveTV Streaming Service

CraveTV is available through some TV providers or directly from CraveTV. The direct price is higher at $7.99 a month with a 1 month free trial.

Useful Links:
Web site: http://www.cravetv.ca/
FAQ: http://help.cravetv.ca/
EDIT: The FAQ has now been updated.
 
#351 ·
@techwjd I think you're missing the point. Live streaming is an option to allow non-cable subscribers the same benefits as cable subscribers. They can watch HBO and Showtime series live and participate in online discussions. They don't have to worry about avoiding spoilers until they watch it On Demand. Movies aren't as critical, but if someone wanted to watch Red Sparrow as soon as it's available, they could watch it live, or they could watch it later on demand. They aren't restricted - the choice is theirs.
 
#352 ·
I have used the New Crave app on Apple TV 4K for a couple of days now.
I like to extent of the catalogue. I have to admit that I missed TMN/HBO since I cut cable about 2 years ago.
The app itself is ok, although I found browsing programs on the iPad app and adding interesting ones to "My List" easier.
My biggest concern is about the picture quality. It is terrible for most programs.
Compression artifacts are very visible in most scenes, especially in dark areas (just have a look at the Short Trek Episode 2 dark seems).
The settings on my 65in 4KTV are fine since Netflix shows look fantastic (most of them) and my internet is 150+Mbps.
Do you know if Bell has any plan on fixing this. Or do they wait a bit and release a higher quality - pricier plan?
 
#354 ·
@techwjd I din't know for sure about the movies since I'm not a subscriber. I picked Red Sparrow since someone mentioned the premiere was coming up and I saw it on demand. It's possible there are some movies where the copyright owner won't license the streaming rights, but they would be on Crave + Movies if they were available on TMN GO in the past.
 
#355 ·
I'm receiving all the Crave programming because I previously subscribed to TMN+HBO+Encore on Rogers. When I go to the Crave website on my computer and login (or to the app), I can not only see what is "live" (upcoming on a channel on my STB), but I can stream anything I want. That is the whole purpose of streaming. They have Movies, series, etc. When streaming there is no "live" - it's all what you want when you want it.

IIRC the "TV" Red Sparrow premier (on a STB) was November 10, however, I'm pretty sure it was available for streaming earlier in the month. Streaming does depend on the licensing for each programme purchased by the provider.

It's the same for On-demand - via a STB. Sometimes the OD may be available starting the same day as the "broadcast" and sometimes it may follow a bit later - depending on licensing. I'm pretty sure anything that comes to a STB (for "TV" viewing" comes to OD or streaming at some time, either a bit earlier, or a bit later.

The streaming/OD rights don't last forever, so if you miss something on "TV" you should catch up via streaming/OD ASAP or it may "disappear". Some programming stays around for a long time while other programming may be gone in a month.

I don't usually stream since it's very easy for me to record on my PVR and I don't watch on a small screen, however, if, for some reason, I miss something, then I may watch OD, or sometimes even stream (via computer connected to TV by HDMI), although I find the quality of (most) streaming to vary (worse than TV) and often it's not DD5.1. This depends on the streaming service, but Crave is what we're talking about here.
 
#358 ·
A LETTERKENNY CHRISTMAS: THE THREE WISE MEN begins streaming Friday, Nov. 23, followed by a fresh six-pack of episodes launching Christmas Day. In addition, production is currently underway on the next set of LETTERKENNY episodes, set to debut on Crave in 2019, which sees The Hicks launch their own public access call-in show.

Full Press Release
 
#359 ·
It's hard to believe they messed this up so badly. Some people have been subscribed for 16 days and can't watch it on their Xbox One.

The app was supposed to be working yesterday(15 days after this whole switch over, don't know what they were thinking) and is still not working today.

Crave has changed their Nov. 15 answer to "in the coming weeks".
 
#360 · (Edited)
Crave Highlights for December: New Season of COUNTERPART, Holiday Programming, and Tomb Raider, Ready Player One, Blockers, and Life of the Party

I'll quote the first paragraph since it's important to point out that Bell Media is now distributing The HBO and former TMN schedule highlights as part of the Crave press release. If you aren't already familiar with these changes, please see the thread:
TMN rebrands as Crave

Welcome to the all-new Crave, home to HBO, SHOWTIME®, STARZ, Hollywood-hit movies, and more. Crave is offered in two packages – Crave and Crave + Movies + HBO – delivering thousands of hours of prestige content to Canadians on the platform of their choosing.
The full December lineup for Crave and Crave + Movies + HBO is outlined below.

SHOWTIME Programming (Available on Crave):
ENEMIES: THE PRESIDENT, JUSTICE AND THE FBI, Season 1, Episode 3 (December 2 @ 8 p.m. ET)
RAY DONOVAN, Season 6, Episode 6 (December 2 @ 9 p.m. ET)
ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA, Episode 3 (December 2 @ 10 p.m. ET)
PORNDEMIC (December 7 @ 10:30 p.m. ET)
ENEMIES: THE PRESIDENT, JUSTICE AND THE FBI, Season 1, Episode 4 (December 9 @ 7 p.m. ET)
ENEMIES: THE PRESIDENT, JUSTICE AND THE FBI, Season 1, Episode 5 (December 9 @ 8 p.m. ET)
RAY DONOVAN, Season 6, Episode 7 (December 9 @ 9 p.m. ET)
ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA, Episode 4 (December 9 @ 10 p.m. ET)
JEFF BECK: STILL ON THE RUN (December 11 @ 7:30 p.m. ET)
THE GODFATHERS OF HARDCORE (December 12 @ 10 p.m. ET)
GG ALLIN: ALL IN THE FAMILY (December 13 @ 10 p.m. ET)
LOUD KRAZY LOVE (December 14 @ 10 p.m. ET)
RAY DONOVAN, Season 6, Episode 8 (December 16 @ 9 p.m. ET)
ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA, Episode 5 (December 16 @ 10 p.m. ET)
SOMMORE: A QUEEN WITH NO SPADES (December 21 @ 11:30 p.m. ET)
RAY DONOVAN, Season 6, Episode 9 (December 23 @ 9 p.m. ET)
ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA, Episode 6 (December 23 @ 10 p.m. ET)
RAY DONOVAN, Season 6, Episode 10 (December 30 @ 9 p.m. ET)
ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA, Episode 7 (December 30 @ 10 p.m. ET)
ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA, Episode 8 *Series Finale* (December 30 @ 11 p.m. ET)

STARZ Programming (Available on Crave):
DAN VS., Season 1 (December 7)
COUNTERPART, Season 2, Episode 1 (December 9 @ 9 p.m. ET)
THE WHITE PRINCESS (December 14)
HEAD CASE, Season 1-2 (December 14)
COUNTERPART, Season 2, Episode 2 (December 16 @ 9 p.m. ET)
COUNTERPART, Season 2, Episode 3 (December 23 @ 9 p.m. ET)
COUNTERPART, Season 2, Episode 4 (December 30 @ 9 p.m. ET)

HBO Programming (Available on Crave + Movies + HBO):
MIKE JUDGE PRESENTS: TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS, Season 2, Episode 5 “James Brown Part 1” (December 1 @ 12:30 a.m. ET)
MY BRILLIANT FRIEND, Episode 5 (December 2 @ 9 p.m. ET)
CAMPING, Season 1, Episode 8 *Season Finale* (December 2 @ 10 p.m. ET)
SALLY4EVER, Season 1, Episode 4 (December 2 @ 10:30 p.m. ET)
MY BRILLIANT FRIEND, Episode 6 (December 3 @ 9 p.m. ET)
SAY HER NAME: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SANDRA BLAND (December 3 @ 10 p.m. ET)
ICEBOX (December 7 @ 8 p.m. ET)
VICE, Season 6, Episode 29 (December 7 @ 11 p.m. ET)
ROOM 104, Season 2, Episode 9 (December 7 @ 11:30 p.m. ET)
ROOM 104, Season 2, Episode 10 (December 8 @ 12 a.m. ET)
MIKE JUDGE PRESENTS: TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS, Season 2, Episode 6 “James Brown Part 2” (December 8 @ 12:30 a.m. ET)
MY BRILLIANT FRIEND, Episode 7 (December 9 @ 9 p.m. ET)
SALLY4EVER, Season 1, Episode 5 (December 9 @ 10:30 p.m. ET)
MY BRILLIANT FRIEND, Episode 8 *Series Finale* (December 10 @ 9 p.m. ET)
VICE SPECIAL REPORT: THE PANIC ARTISTS (December 10 @ 10 p.m. ET)
MOMENTUM GENERATION (December 11 @ 10 p.m. ET)
THE FIGHT GAME WITH JIM LAMPLEY (December 12 @ 11 p.m. ET)
VICE Season 6, Episode 30 *Season Finale* (December 14 @ 11 p.m. ET)
ROOM 104, Season 2, Episode 11 (December 14 @ 11:30 p.m. ET)
ROOM 104, Season 2, Episode 12 *Season Finale* (December Dec 15 @ 12 a.m. ET)
MIKE JUDGE PRESENTS: TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS, Season 2, Episode 7 “Morris Day and The Time” (December 15 @ 12:30 a.m. ET)
PETE HOLMES: DIRTY CLEAN (December 15 @ 10 p.m. ET)
SALLY4EVER, Season 1, Episode 6 (December 16 @ 10:30 p.m. ET)
MIKE JUDGE PRESENTS: TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS, Season 2, Episode 8 “Betty Davis” *Season Finale* (December 22 @ 12:45 a.m. ET)
SALLY4EVER, Season 1, Episode 7 *Season Finale* (December 23 @ 10:30 p.m. ET)

Movies (Available on Crave + Movies + HBO):
Home Alone (December 1)
Home Alone 2 (December 1)
Die Hard (December 1)
Die Hard 2 (December 1)
Love Actually (December 1)
Miracle on 34th Street (1994) (December 1)
Arthur Christmas (December 1)
The National Tree (December 3)
The Heart of Christmas (December 4)\
6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain (December 6)
Death Wish (December 7)
Santa Jaws (December 7)
Spider-Man (2002) (December 8)
Spider-Man 2 (2004) (December 8)
Spider-Man 3 (2007) (December 8)
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) (December 8)
Wexford Plaza *Canadian Movie Premiere* (December 12)
Entaglement *Movie Premiere* (December 13)
Love, Simon *Movie Premiere* (December 14)
Blockers *Movie Premiere* (December 14)
Gemini *Movie Premiere* (December 20)
Kayak to Klemtu *Canadian Movie Premiere* (December 21)
Lucky *Movie Premiere* (December 21)
Moonrise Kingdom *Movie Premiere* (December 21)
Isle of Dogs *Movie Premiere* (December 21)
Ready Player One *Movie Premiere* (December 25)
Resident Evil (December 25)
Doom (December 25)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (December 25)
Adventures In Public School *Canadian Movie Premiere* (December 27)
Superfly *Movie Premiere* (December 28)
Swan Princess: A Royal Myztery *Movie Premiere* (December 28)
Life of the Party *Movie Premiere* (December 28)

Spotlight on Canada (Available on Crave):
ONE WORLD KITCHEN: OUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY RECIPES (December 1)
ONE WORLD KITCHEN BAKES THE HOLIDAYS (December 1)
WATTS UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS: SPENCER’S ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS RECIPES (December 1)
MICHAEL BONACINI’S CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM (December 1)
FRONTIER, Season 3 (December 22)

Worth Watching (Available on Crave):
A Christmas Carol (1951, black and white version) (December 1)
DRUNK HISTORY, Season 5B, Episode 8 “Christmas” (December 1)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, Season 32, Episodes 65-69 (December 4)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, Season 32, Episodes 70-74 (December 11)
CORPORATE, Season 1 (December 14)
DRUNK HISTORY, Season 5B (December 14)
COUNTERPART, Season 2, Episode 2 (December 16 @ 9 p.m. ET)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, Season 32, Episodes 75-79 (December 18)
COUNTERPART, Season 2, Episode 3 (December 23 @ 9 p.m. ET)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, Season 32, Episodes 80-84 (December 25)
COUNTERPART, Season 2, Episode 4 (December 30 @ 9 p.m. ET)

New Kids’ Programming (Available on Crave):
SONIC CHRISTMAS BLAST (December 1)
CHARLES DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL (December 1)
GOTTA CATCH SANTA CLAUS (December 1)
A HOLLYWOOD HOUND’S CHRISTMAS (December 1)
RAINBOW MAGIC (December 7)
OM NOM STORIES, Season 2 (December 14)
THE ADVENTURES OF PADDINGTON, Season 3 (December 21)
PADDINGTON GOES TO THE MOVIES (December 21)
SUPER DUPER SUMOS, Season 1 (December 28)
FINGERLINGS TALES, Season 1 (December 28)
THE FINGERLINGS SHOW, Season 1 (December 28)

#ICRAVEFRIDAYS:
GUNPOWDER (December 7)
THE NEWSPAPERMAN: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BEN BRADLEE (December 7)
STAR TREK: SHORT TREKS – THE BRIGHTEST STAR (December 7 @ 9 p.m. ET)
HAPPENING: A CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION (December 14)
EMPEROR’S NEWEST CLOTHES (December 14)
AGNELLI (December 21)
JERSEY SHORE: FAMILY VACATION, Season 2 (December 21)
JFL: ALL ACCESS, Season 6 (December 28)

LAST CHANCE PROGRAMMING:
A Kind of Murder (December 1)
Wheeler (December 3)
GOIND CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF (December 5)
PHARMA SUTRA (December 5)
The Magnificent Seven (December 5)
The Other Half (December 6)
Juste La Fin Du Monde (December 7)
Two Lovers and a Bear (December 7)
Underworld: Blood Wars (December 8)
MADONNA: REBEL HEART TOUR (December 8)
Nocturnal Animals (December 10)
DAMAGES, Season 1-5 (December 10)
WEEDS, Season 1-4 (December 10)
THE L WORD, Season 1-6 (December 10)
NIKITA, Season 1-4 (December 10)
PEACE WARRIOR (December 12)
SAM SMITH: LIVE IN LONDON (December 14)
RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE: THE LAWRENCE PHILLIPS STORY (December 15)
IHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL NORTH (December 16)
THE FIGHT GAME WITH JIM LAMPLEY, Season 6, Episode 4 (December 19)
1:54 (December 28)
American Pastoral (December 30)
Whitney Cummings’ Bleep Show (December 30)
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (December 30)
Operation Avalanche (December 30)
FUNNY AS HELL, Season 4 (December 30)
ROAD TO THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA (December 31)
INTO THE UNIVERSE WITH STEPHEN HAWKING (December 31)
LICENCE TO DRILL, Season 4 (December 31)
GAME CHANGE (December 31)
MASTERCHEF CANADA, Season 3 (December 31)
MIGHTY SHIPS, Season 6 (December 31)
PHIL COLLINS: GOING BACK TO DETROIT (December 31)
The 9th Life of Louis Drax (December 31)
Deadly Sorority (December 31)
Shut In (December 31)
Home Alone (December 31)
Home Alone 2 (December 31)
Die Hard (December 31)
Die Hard 2 (December 31)
Love Actually (December 31)
Miracle on 34th Street (December 31)
Spider-Man (December 31)
Spider-Man 2 (December 31)
Spider-Man 3 (December 31)
The Amazing Spider-Man(December 31)
Arthur Christmas (December 31)

COMING IN JANUARY:
BLACK MONDAY
SMILF, Season 2
TRUE DETECTIVE, Season 3
HIGH MAINTENANCE, Season 3
CRASHING, Season 3
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, Season 2
 
#363 ·
@Bayguy Counterpart is a Starz program. It was shown on Encore last year and probably again this year, since the channel will be rebrtanded to Starz. The good news for most people is that Crave is included with the new "Crave + Movies + HBO" subscription by most TV providers; the bad news for you is that it can only be streamed in Canada.
 
#364 ·
Counterpart Season 1 is available on TMN Encore On Demand. It was rerun several times on TMN Encore (or the rebrand) and may be again. As noted it is also available on Crave+. A TMN Encore subscription is required to watch it on TMN Encore On Demand. It's not required with Crave+ or when using Crave+ with a BDU Crave subscription.
 
#366 ·
Hi Dr. Dave we don't get Encore, but you think it might be on basic Crave = TMN?

I am talking about real TV not streaming. The Dec. 9 date you mentioned.

p.s. Yes I did read your other msg. Maybe we will be able to see part of S2 of Counterpart before they move it, but just want to make sure I understand that it will start on "basic crave."
 
#367 ·
@Bayguy when I said "basic Crave," I was talking about the original streaming service that Bell sells for $9.99/month to try to differentiate it from the "Crave + Movies + HBO" that they sell for $19.98/month. I know it's confusing when they decided to rebrand the real TV channels TMN 1-4 to Crave 1-4.

The reason for my previous "clarification" is that ExDilbert mentioned "Crave+" which some people might mistake for "Crave + Movies + HBO."

They did show the first 2 episodes of Counterpart season 1 on TMN and the whole season on TMN Encore. I think they will just show it on the Encore TV channel now that they announced that the channel will be rebranded to Starz. You can always check your TV Guide.

This is definitely a situation where Bell should have hired a branding professional rather than try to do it in-house.
 
#368 ·
By "Crave+" I meant "Crave + Movies + HBO." Maybe I should have said Crave++. Forgot that Counterpart S01 was on the standard OTT Crave. I suspect that may change once Encore is rebranded to Starz, at least for the original airing. Will Crave + Movies + HBO become Crave + Movies + HBO + Starz? Encore is an extra charge on most BDUs so Starz could be extra for Crave subscribers.
 
#369 ·
Oh, I see, you meant streaming Crave = basic Crave. Well that won't do us any good. :-( We did watch the first ep last time but then we had to wait for Comcast Watchathon to see the rest. I guess we will have to wait again. Its a good show but we don't want to pay for Starz to just to see 1 show.

Yes they should of got help to make their names. Something like Crave TV and Crave Online.

ExDilbert we have Shaw Direct and you are right, Encore is extra. So we won't get Starz even tho we get TMN/Crave and HBO.

"Crave+Movies" seems very strange for someone to have to buy. Here in the U.s., our streaming companies like Netflix and Amazon have movies already, not just TV shows. It's weird that Crave is only TV shows and they had to buy something else to have movies.
 
#370 ·
"Crave+Movies" seems very strange for someone to have to buy. Here in the U.s., our streaming companies like Netflix and Amazon have movies already, not just TV shows. It's weird that Crave is only TV shows and they had to buy something else to have movies.“

Basic CraveTV also has movies.
 
#371 ·
@ExDilbert see post 365 - it certainly sounds like Starz will be available either as a separate OTT service or an add-on to Crave. It will probably include the Starz series and the Lionsgate movies. The TV bundles will probably remain as they are - you will be able to buy "Crave + Movies + HBO" and Starz separately or bundle them together for a reduced price.

@Bayguy I searched Zap2it for Counterpart and found season 2 is only on Encore, also on Dec. 9. I discovered a little while ago that if you search the new Zap2it for a program, it will show times a few days beyond the "official" TV grid, which only goes to Dec. 7.

The old Crave streaming service was closer to Hulu in the U.S. in the sense that they mainly had TV shows. I think the few movies they had were HBO TV movies. They did stream the James Bond movies which they bought for TMN, but that was more of an exception.

The new "Crave + Movies + HBO" streaming is closer to "HBO Now" in the U.S. which is a standalone service targeting cord cutters. The prices are almost identical once you account for the exchange rate, with HBO Now at $15 U.S. and Crave+ at $20 CDN.
 
#373 ·
The old Crave streaming service was closer to Hulu in the U.S.
Crave basic is like a really lame version of Hulu. It's probably closer to what Netflix Canada was when it first launched. Both have/had very little original programming, very few current TV shows or movies and a weak selection of older shows and movies. Adding TMN/Crave movies and current HBO content makes Crave a little more competitive with the current Netflix. Crave++ needs to add Starz and Hulu original shows plus more to stay anywhere close to Netflix for original content. Then there is the price difference.
 
#377 ·
I gather it adds the movies that are normally on The Movie Network.
That is correct. Crave basic has third run movies and TV shows (similar to regular cable channels) plus legacy HBO shows and limited selection of more current TV shows. Crave++ adds current movies and TV shows from the Crave movie channels plus more recent and current HBO programming.

Bell has really created an identity issue by rebranding TMN as Crave. What does Crave refer to? It could be one of two things that are indistinguishable by name.

Crave++ is probably the best choice for chord cutters and maybe even BDU subscribers. Prices vary and subscribing through a BDU could end up costing more than the Crave++ OTT subscription.
 
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