CBS All Access Goes International with Launch of Canadian Service

CBS is launching its digital video subscription service CBS All Access in Canada, marking its first expansion to a market outside of the U.S.

CBS All Access will offer Canadian viewers 7,500 commercial-free episodes of programming, including current seasons of some of the network’s prime-time shows, entire previous seasons and “classic” programming. Subscribers who pay a monthly fee of $6 Canadian also will be able to live stream CBSN, the network’s 24-hour live streaming news service.

“The launch of CBS All Access in Canada is a significant milestone for the service,” said CBS Interactive President Marc DeBevoise. “We’ve experienced incredible growth domestically and see a great opportunity to bring the service and CBS’ renowned programming directly to international audiences across a range of platforms and devices.”

CBS has been placing increased emphasis on streaming services to reach the millions of viewers who’ve canceled their cable or satellite services or never subscribed in the first place. In February, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves touted the network’s over-the-top milestone of 5 million subscribers and announced plans to introduce more offerings, such as the recently launched CBS Sports HQ. 

Fundamental changes in viewing habits is one consideration motivating ongoing merger talks between CBS and its corporate sibling Viacom. The two media companies, both controlled by the Redstone family through the National Amusements holding company, have yet to reach an agreement on valuation or leadership.

The Canadian version of CBS All Access  will include nearly 20 primetime shows, such as NCIS, Survivor, Elementary and Madam Secretary, late-night offerings such as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and classic shows including The Good Wife, Hawaii Five-O and Charmed.

One original series that helped drive subscriber growth in the U.S., Star Trek: Discovery, won’t be included in the Canadian version of CBS All Access, because it’s licensed to another distributor, Bell Canada.