CBC Gem has landed on the Roku platform with more than 6,500 hours of content.

In a deal between CBC and Roku that was announced on Wednesday (Aug. 23), users in Canada can access CBC Gem’s live and on-demand programming for free on the Roku streaming player or Roku TV starting today, according to a news release.

“As millions of consumers move to streaming and connected TV platforms, our partnership with Roku is key to ensuring that wider audiences in Canada are able to discover and enjoy CBC’s award-winning news and entertainment programming,” said CBC EVP Barbara Williams in a statement.

Among the series users will have access are new original titles premiering this fall, such as Black Life: Untold Stories, BlackBerry, Bones of Crows and the latest season of The Great British Baking Show, in addition to its past seasons.

Additional CBC series that are available on Roku include Baroness von Sketch Show; Kim’s Convenience; Schitt’s Creek; and Workin’ Moms, as well as previous seasons of current CBC original titles The Great Canadian Baking Show, Heartland, Murdoch Mysteries, SkyMed, and Sort Of.

Mary-Anne Taylor, Roku’s head of content distribution for Canada, said in a statement that “our Canadian customers have been asking for CBC Gem, and we are proud to now offer them access to the impressive programming lineup of home-grown and international programming.”

Williams previously told Playback that streaming platforms and connected TVs are a “critical piece” to the public broadcaster’s future, which includes attracting more viewers in the 30 to 49 demographic.

Roku users can also access programming from CBC’s news sources, including the FAST channel CBC News Explore and live streams of 14 local newscasts on CBC channels from across the country, said the release.

Radio-Canada streaming service Ici Tou.TV has also launched on Roku devices.

With files from Victoria Ahearn

Image courtesy of CBC