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Launched in 2018 as the CBC TV app, CBC Gem is an official, freemium streaming service by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
It gives access to live TV from 14 CBC channels across Canada. The free version also lets you watch popular Canadian shows and films with ads.
For an ad-free experience, you can also upgrade CBC Gem for $5.99/month (Canadian dollars) with a 7-day free trial and enjoy access to CBC News Network.
Please note that CBC Gem is geo-restricted, meaning it’s only available to users within Canada. If you want to access it in the US or anywhere outside Canada, you’ll need a VPN. Surfshark is our #1 choice.
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How to Sign Up for CBC Gem on FireStick
Using CBC Gem requires you to create an account. Here is the step-by-step process to sign up for this platform:
Step 1: Visit www.gem.cbc.ca from your PC, mobile, or Amazon Silk Browser and click the “Create an Account” icon in the top right corner.
Note: If you are accessing the website outside Canada, make sure you use Surfshark and connect it to the Canada server.
Step 2: Now select “Create a Free CBC Account“.
Step 3: Enter your email address, create a password, and then press “Continue”.
Step 4: Fill in the required details.
P.S. If you can’t find the right postal code, enter “M5V 3L9”.
Step 5: You will receive a verification code in your email; enter it in the following box to complete the signup process.
2 Ways to Install & Watch CBC Gem on FireStick
The following 2 tried-and-tested methods will let you install and watch the CBC Gem app on FireStick from anywhere in the world:
- Install CBC Gem on FireStick by Changing Amazon Store Region
- Watch CBC Gem on FireStick Using a Browser
How to Install CBC Gem on FireStick by Changing Amazon Store Region
Currently, the available CBC Gem APK or XAPK/APK files are not working properly on FireStick.
Fortunately, you can install the app from the Amazon Appstore, but it will require you to change your Amazon account to a Canadian address.
Once you have changed the address, restart the Fire TV Stick. If you still see the “unavailable“ icon on CBC Gem, “Purchasing Failure” error, or don’t see the app at all on Appstore, follow the steps below:
P.S. Please make sure to install SurfShark VPN on FireStick and connect it to the Canadian server to stream CBC Gem outside Canada.
Step 1: Open your laptop/PC/mobile and enter “www.Amazon.com“ in the search engine. Click “Accounts & Lists” and navigate to “Sign In“.
Step 2: Enter your email address and password to sign in.
Step 3: Tap “Accounts & Lists” and then select “Account”.
Step 4: Tap the “Your Addresses” icon.
Step 5: Click “Add Addresses”.
Step 6: Enter your address and click “Add Address”.
P.S. You can take a random Canadian address and phone number from the Internet.
Step 7: Now, click “Accounts & Lists” and navigate to “Devices”.
Step 8: Click “Preferences”.
Step 9: Choose “Country/Region Settings”.
Step 10: Select “No Existing Address Searched”.
Step 11: Now you will see the Canadian address you have just entered; select it.
Step 12: Tap “Update”.
Step 13: Now you will see the “Success” pop-up. This means your address has been updated.
Step 14: Now, when I immediately searched CBC Gem on the Amazon Appstore on my FireStick, the app didn’t show up.
P.S. The app did show up in the Amazon Appstore after some time.
Step 15: As an alternative, type go to www.Amazon.com and type “CBC Gem” in the search bar.
Step 16: Select “CBC Gem”.
Step 17: Click “Deliver”.
Step 18: In a few minutes, the app will be installed on your FireStick on its own.
Step 19: Open the Surfshark app and connect it to the Canadian server.
Step 20: Now go to “Apps Library”.
Step 21: Select “CBC Gem”.
Step 22: Select the “CBC Gem” app.
Step 23: Tap “Sign In”.
Step 24: Enter your credentials.
Step 25: Choose a title and select “Watch Now”.
Step 27: Enjoy streaming!
How to Watch CBC Gem on FireStick Using a Browser
If you don’t want to install the CBC Gem app, you have the option to watch it via any of the top FireStick browsers. I’m using Amazon Silk Browser.
However, don’t forget to install SurfShark VPN on FireStick and connect it to the Canadian server to access it outside the Canadian territory.
Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open Surfshark and connect it to the Canadian server.
Step 2: Go to FireStick Home
Step 3: Click on the Find tab
Step 4: Now select the Search option
Step 5: Type Internet in the search bar and select from the list
Step 6: Choose the Internet App (Silk Browser) from the given options
Step 7: Tap the Get/Download button
Step 8: Wait until the installation of the browser completes
Step 9: Click Open, once the browser is installed.
Step 10: Click on Accept Terms to access the browser
Step 11: When the browser launches, the Bing.com tab will open at first.
Step 12: Type www.gem.cbc.ca in the search box and click “GO”.
Step 13: Tap the “Menu” icon in the top left corner.
Step 14: Tap “Sign In”.
Step 15: Enter credentials.
Step 16: Choose any movie/show title or live TV channel.
Step 17: Enjoy streaming!
What Movies/Shows You Can Watch on CBC Gem
If you are new to CBC Gem, here’s the list of the best movies and shows you must watch on this platform:
Shows:
- Schitt’s Creek
- Kim’s Convenience
- Murdoch Mysteries
- The Great Canadian Baking Show
- Heartland
- Anne with an E
- Workin’ Moms
- Coroner
- The Porter
- Dragons’ Den
Movies:
- Giant Little Ones
- The Grizzlies
- Maudie
- Indian Horse
- Black Cop
- Into the Forest
- The Breadwinner
- Weirdos
- Closet Monster
- Away From Her
- Room
CBC Gem Pricing
Here’s the breakdown of CBC Gem pricing:
- Free Tier: Limited access to content (includes ads).
- Premium Tier: For $5.99 CAD per month, you can upgrade to the premium version, which provides ad-free streaming.
CBC Gem Features
Wondering what makes CBC Gem such a popular streaming platform? Well, reading its following features may give you some idea:
✅ Free version
✅ Live TV streaming
✅ On-demand content
✅ Ad-free premium tier
✅ CBC Originals and exclusive series
✅ Kids programming
✅ Documentaries
✅ Closed captioning
✅ Watchlist feature
✅ Parental controls
Trouble Streaming CBC Gem on FireStick? Try These Fixes
If you’re dealing with buffering, app crashes, or other streaming glitches on CBC Gem, try these quick fixes to smooth things out:
- Clear app cache
- Close background apps
- Connect FireStick via Ethernet
- Set video resolution to 1080p/4K
- Restart FireStick
CBC Gem Alternatives
If you like CBC Gem, you would want to try some of its following alternatives:
- Pluto TV on FireStick
- Xumo TV on FireStick
- BBC iPlayer on FireStick
- ITVX on FireStick
- 9Now on FireStick
FAQs – CBC Gem
Is CBC Gem free to watch on Firestick?
Yes, CBC Gem offers a free tier with ads, but there’s also an ad-free premium option costing $5.99/mo.
Can I watch CBC Gem outside of Canada?
Since CBC Gem is restricted to Canada, you’ll need a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions.
Does CBC Gem stream live sports on FireStick?
Yes, CBC Gem streams live sports such as the FIFA World Cup, Rugby, and Wimbledon.
Does CBC Gem offer subtitles on FireStick?
Yes, CBC Gem provides subtitles for various shows and movies.
Conclusion
CBC Gem is an awesome choice if you’re after free Canadian live TV or a solid library of on-demand content.
With everything from popular CBC Originals to live sports and news, it’s a great way to dive into Canadian entertainment.
Whether you stick with the free version or opt for the premium plan ($5.99/mo) to skip the ads, you’ll have access to a ton of great shows, movies, and live TV channels.
However, if you’re outside Canada, you will have to use Surfshark and then connect it to the Canada server to bypass geo-restrictions.






















































“An Update is required
This version of the App is no longer supported. Please install the latest version to continue using Gem on your device.”
on 8/14 2025
Hi Kyle, we’ve updated the CBC Gem APK (v11.26.2.550) in our Downloads Page. You can now download it using the downloader code 730116 (edited)
Hi hi I’m getting the “An Update is Required” message again. (Dec 2 , 2025) seems they’ve updated everything. to 11.39 or higher . Please help if you can. The 11.26.2.550 and 11.23.0.508 no longer work.
“An Update is required
This version of the App is no longer supported. Please install the latest version to continue using Gem on your device.”
Hi, you can download the latest version of CBC Gem using our downloader code 730116. You will find the app under the “Sports Apps” category.
Hi hi, that did install but got an error message saying “No app found to handle this file” I was able to get it to install using XAPKS as it is a .apkm file. However, while this is v11.39.1.648 , this seems to be for a different version of android that is incompatible with FireOS devices. It requires you to have a touchscreen device and does not fit on the screen. it will not work with a FireOS remote.
The previous version and 11.23.0.508 , the version before that, was the FireOS compatible version which worked with the remote. So, this version will not work with any FireOS device
v11.26.2.550 of the CBC Gem APK no longer supported 🙁
Hi Martin, you can download the latest version of CBC Gem using our downloader code 730116. You will find the app under the “Sports Apps” category.
I get a “No App found to handle this file” error
Hi, so currently there’s no working APK or XAPK/APKM CBC Gem file. You have to install it from amazon appstore after changing uyour region to Australia on your Amazon account. Use this guide to change the address.
I found that APKMirror has v11.45.1.722 of the CBC Gem App, and I’ve sideloaded it. I can’t log into my CBC Gem account, and navigation is hell, but I can watch The National from the day before on it.
you can install CBC Gem using the APKM file listed on our downloads page. Please use downloader code 730116.
However, installing APKM/XAPK files is a little different than installing APK file on FireStick.
follow this guide to install APKM file on FireStick