CTV is one of Canada’s most-watched television networks. It has many specialty channels that provide top content, from news programs to entertaining TV shows.
Furthermore, it has a vast library of episodic videos and new and iconic fan-favorite shows that push boundaries and celebrate pop culture. But before you can watch Canadian TV, you will first have to activate the service on your device.
You require a TV subscription to watch CTV content. In other words, you need to subscribe to a participating TV provider and use the credentials to activate CTV on your device.
If you already have an account with cable service, you will have to download the CTV application on your Smart TV, then visit ctv.ca/activate, and complete the activation. CTV will not charge you an extra fee to access its content.
How to activate CTV on different devices
You can activate CTV on different streaming devices by following the steps provided here.
1. Android TV
You can activate CTV on Android TV by following the steps below:
- From the Android TV Home screen, scroll to Apps.
- Select the Google Play Store app.
- Browse or search for CTV News.
- You have to set your Google Play Store to the Canadian store to locate CTV.
- Select the app after finding it.
- Select Install and wait for the installation to complete.
- Launch the CTV App on your Android TV.
- Select the Sign In button in the Account Management section.
- An activation code will appear.
- Visit ctv.ca/activate on a web or mobile browser.
- Sign in through your BDU provider or select your TV provider.
- Enter the activation code displayed in the app.
- A Success message will appear on your browser if the credentials are correct.
At this point, you can now enjoy the best of the CTV application or watch CTV live.
2. Apple TV
Activating CTV on Apple TV:
- Open the App Store app on your Apple TV.
- Browse or search for the CTV News app.
- Select the Get button to download and install the app.
- Launch the CTV News app.
- Select Sign In from the navigation bar.
- You will see an activation code.
- Go to ctv.ca/appletv on a web browser.
- Enter the activation code displayed on your television.
- Sign in to your TV provider if you are an existing subscriber.
- Enter your credentials, including your email and password.
- If correct, you should see a Success message on your browser.
- Return to your Apple TV.
At this point, you are ready to start streaming video on CTV.
3. Roku
You can activate CTV on your Roku by following the steps below:
- Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
- Open the channel store by selecting Streaming Channels.
- Search for CTV News.
- Select Add Channel to install the channel on your Roku device.
- Enter your Roku account PIN if necessary. After the installation, the channel will appear on your home screen.
- Open the CTV News channel.
- Click on the Sign In button.
- You will see an activation code.
- Visit ctv.ca/activate on a web or mobile browser.
- Sign in through your BDU provider or select your TV provider.
- Enter the activation code displayed in the channel.
- A Success message will appear on your browser.
- Go back to your Roku device.
You can now watch CTV content on your Roku.
4. Samsung Smart TV
CTV is available on Samsung Smart TVs through the Samsung Smart Hub. You can activate the service on the device by following the steps below:
- Press the Home button on your Samsung remote.
- Select APPS.
- Select the Search icon in the top-right corner.
- Enter the term CTV News.
- Select the app once you locate it.
- Select Install.
- To open the app, press the Home button.
- Highlight the app and select it to open it.
- Select Sign In.
- You will see an activation code.
- Visit ctv.ca/activate on a web or mobile browser.
- Sign in through your BDU provider or select your TV provider.
- Enter the activation code displayed in the app.
- If you see a Success message, you have provided the correct details.
At this point, you can enjoy watching CTV content, including TV shows and news.
5. Fire Stick / Fire TV
Here are the steps you can follow to activate CTV on Fire Stick:
- Use the main menu on your Fire Stick to search for CTV News.
- Select the app once you find it.
- Select Get to start your download.
- Launch the CTV App on your Fire Stick.
- Select the Sign In button in the Account Management section.
- Note down the activation code.
- Visit ctv.ca/activate on a web or mobile browser.
- Sign in through a TV provider.
- Enter the activation code as displayed in the app.
- A Success message will appear on your browser.
You can now stream CTV programs on your Firestick.
Why are CTV shows locked?
Some CTV shows are only available via a TV service provider. If you see the lock symbol, it means you have to sign in with your TV service credentials to view the content. In this case, the locked video is authenticated.
Can you subscribe to CTV without cable?
As a service, CTV is free for all users. However, you require a cable subscription to access specific content.
For example, you can access news clips and recent news programs without logging in to your account. But if you want to watch authenticated live and archival content, you require a username and password provided by a participating TV provider.
Can I watch CTV live for free?
CTV does not charge you anything or require you to sign in to an account to view its digital-exclusive LIVE channels. However, you will have to sign in to an account to access CTV News Channel LIVE programming and archived videos.
But generally, if you have a TV subscription with a participating TV service provider, you can watch live TV. Furthermore, some live news content is available without a TV subscription.
CTV is not working? How to fix
If CTV is not working, try the following to fix it:
- Uninstall the app and install it again.
- Change the plug-in in your Chrome browser if it has crashed or stopped working.
- Check to ensure you have entered the correct login credentials.
- Your TV subscription might not include all the channels within the CTV site and app.
- Check your internet connectivity.
CTV may also not work because the content you are trying to watch is not available or restricted because of broadcasting rights. If you continue to experience difficulty, contact CTV support services help@ctv.ca.
Conclusion
You require a TV subscription to watch specific content on CTV. But if you want to stream programs on your connected TV, you will have to activate CTV on your device.
In this case, download and install the CTV News app from your device application store, copy the activation code, and visit ctv.ca/activate to complete the activation. Although CTV is free, a participating TV provider is necessary to activate the service on your device.
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