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Yes—the Crave expansion announced by Bell in June 2025 has since launched. Bell says the service added more than 10,000 hours of programming, growing its library by over 30% and bringing the total to more than 40,000 hours. However, “some free” means selected programming through a free, ad-supported account—not free access to the complete Crave catalogue.
The expanded service was announced as live on November 26, 2025. Since catalogues and licensing rights change, the exact titles available in August 2026 may differ from the launch lineup.
What Bell originally announced
On June 5, 2025, Bell announced that Crave would add more than 10,000 hours of content by the end of the year. Bell described the expansion as more than a 30% increase to Crave’s library.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe announcement was a plan for a later rollout, not an immediate claim that the full catalogue had already changed. Bell subsequently said the expansion went live on November 26, 2025.
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The additional programming was intended to broaden Crave beyond its established premium-entertainment offering by incorporating more of Bell Media’s wider portfolio, including:
- CTV and CTV 2 programming
- CTV Movies
- CTV Throwback
- Noovo programming
- News
- Selected sports and live events
- A larger kids collection
- USA Network
- Canal D
- Existing HBO, Max Originals and Crave Originals
In its November launch announcement, Bell said the expanded service contained more than 40,000 hours, compared with approximately 30,000 hours previously. Those figures are Bell’s stated portfolio measurements, not an independently audited catalogue count.
Did the expansion actually launch?
According to Bell, yes. The company’s November 26, 2025 release presented the expansion as live and highlighted direct access to live programming from CTV and Noovo, alongside broader live, entertainment, news and sports programming.
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That confirms the rollout itself, but it does not guarantee that every channel, program or event named in the announcement remains available today. Streaming rights, regional availability and scheduling windows can change. “More than 10,000 hours” also refers to programming hours—not necessarily 10,000 new titles. The figure can include episodes, films, live programming and channel-based content.
What is free on Crave?
Bell described a free account with advertising. The free offering includes selected content from:
- CTV
- CTV 2
- CTV Movies
- CTV Throwback
- Noovo
The announcements refer to both live programming and on-demand content. For example, CTV and Noovo live feeds are part of the expanded experience, while categories such as movies and throwback television may be offered on demand. That does not mean every free title is available in both formats.
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Important: A free Crave account is not the same as a free Crave Premium subscription. The available evidence does not support assuming that HBO, Max Originals, the complete Crave Originals catalogue or the entire movie library can be watched without paying.
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Bell positions paid Crave plans around the service’s premium catalogue, including:
- HBO programming
- Max Originals
- Crave Originals
- A broader movie selection
- French-language programming
- Selected premium live events, sports and news
STARZ is offered as an optional add-on rather than being automatically included with every Crave plan. Paid access also does not mean every plan has identical features. Bell’s plan information shows that advertising, device support, simultaneous viewing and downloads can vary by tier. For example, offline viewing is not available on the Standard With Ads plan.
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- Voice search & control: Quickly search, play entertainment, and control your streaming device with the voice remote
Current prices and promotional terms should be checked on the Canadian Crave signup page before subscribing. Prices, discounts, renewal rates and plan labels can change.
How the expanded Crave changes the service
The expansion makes Crave more of a Bell Media streaming hub. It combines premium scripted entertainment with broadcast television, Canadian news, live programming, selected sports, kids content and English- and French-language offerings.
That broader approach may make Crave more useful for households that want several types of programming in one app. It also changes the meaning of the service’s headline catalogue size: a larger library does not mean that all of its content is premium, ad-free or included in the free account.
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Who benefits most?
- Occasional viewers: The free account can provide selected Canadian television, news, movies and older programs without a recurring subscription.
- Existing Crave subscribers: More Bell Media programming and live access may make the app a more comprehensive destination.
- Families: The larger kids collection may be useful, although individual titles and age suitability should be checked.
- Viewers seeking Canadian content: CTV, Noovo and related programming add more domestic broadcast content to the platform.
- Ad-tolerant viewers: Advertising may be an acceptable trade-off for avoiding a monthly fee.
Who may still need to pay?
- Viewers specifically seeking HBO, Max Originals or the latest Crave Originals
- People who want the broadest premium movie and series catalogue
- Ad-averse viewers comparing higher-tier plans
- Households that need downloads, particular device support or more simultaneous streams
- Viewers looking for a dedicated sports service rather than selected sports and live events
Crave’s expansion should not be treated as a replacement for every sports platform. The announcement refers to selected sports and live events, not full access to TSN or all major sports coverage.
What to check before signing up
- Check the access label: Confirm whether a program is free, ad-supported or subscription-only.
- Check the format: Determine whether it is live, on demand or both.
- Check advertising: Do not assume that free content is ad-free, and verify the ad policy for any paid tier.
- Check features: Review supported devices, simultaneous streams and download availability for the specific plan.
- Check rights and region: A program’s availability can depend on licensing, language, location and scheduling windows.
- Check promotions: If a discounted offer is advertised, confirm its term, regular renewal price, taxes and cancellation conditions.
Crave is a Canadian service; the Canadian App Store listing identifies it as available in Canada. Viewers outside Canada should not assume they can subscribe normally.
Is Crave worth considering?
If you mainly want CTV, Noovo, selected movies or older Canadian television, try the free account first. It offers a way to assess the service without committing to a paid plan, provided you are comfortable with advertising and a limited catalogue.
If HBO, Max Originals or Crave Originals are the reason you are interested, you will still need a paid subscription. The expansion adds breadth, but it does not make Crave’s premium catalogue free.
If sports are your priority, compare the specific events available rather than treating Crave as a complete sports replacement. Families should likewise evaluate the actual kids catalogue, since a larger collection does not guarantee that every preferred title is included.
The practical takeaway
Bell’s 2025 promise became a launched expansion in November 2025: Crave is substantially larger, with Bell claiming more than 10,000 additional hours and a total library exceeding 40,000 hours. The important qualification is the business model. Only selected CTV, CTV 2, CTV Movies, CTV Throwback and Noovo programming was identified as free, and that access is ad-supported. HBO, Max, Crave Originals and the broader premium catalogue remain tied to paid plans.
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