You’ve settled in to watch your favourite show on CTV’s website or app, only to find a small lock symbol next to the latest episode. This indicates that the content is “locked,” and you can’t watch it immediately. So, how do you get past this digital gatekeeper? Unlocking episodes on CTV is a straightforward process, but it requires one key piece of information: a subscription to a participating TV service provider visit ctv.ca/activate.
Understanding the Lock Symbol
The lock symbol on CTV content is a way for the broadcaster to manage viewing rights. Typically, you will find that the very latest episodes of a popular series, special live events, or premium movies are locked shortly after they air on television. This is part of their agreement with television providers.
In contrast, many other episodes might be unlocked and available for anyone to watch for free. This often includes older episodes from the current season or the entire back catalogue of certain shows. Essentially, the unlocked content is a free, ad-supported offering, while the locked content is a benefit reserved for paying cable or satellite TV subscribers.
The Key to Unlocking: Your TV Subscription
The primary method for unlocking CTV episodes is to authenticate your account using the login details from your Canadian television provider. CTV has partnerships with nearly every major cable, satellite, and IPTV provider across Canada. This includes companies like Bell, Rogers, Shaw, Telus, Cogeco, and many others.
When you sign in with your TV provider credentials, you are proving to CTV that you are already a paying customer with access to their channel. This system, known as “TV Everywhere,” extends your existing TV subscription to digital platforms at no extra cost, allowing you to watch the content you pay for on your computer, smartphone, or smart TV.
Read More – How to Activate TSN on Popular Streaming Devices Via tsn.ca/activate.
Step-by-Step Guide to Unlocking Episodes
Unlocking content is a simple, one-time setup on each of your devices. Just follow these steps:
- Choose a Locked Episode: Open the CTV app on your device or visit CTV.ca in a web browser. Navigate to the show you want to watch and click on an episode marked with the lock icon.
- Prompt to Sign In: When you try to play the video, a prompt will appear asking you to sign in.
- Select Your TV Provider: You will be presented with a list of Canadian television providers. Scroll through the list and select the company you have a subscription with (e.g., Bell, Rogers, Shaw).
- Enter Your Login Details: You will be redirected to your TV provider’s secure login page. Here, you must enter the same username and password that you would use to log into your online account with that provider (the one you use to pay your bills online).
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- Start Watching: After successfully signing in, you will be sent back to the CTV platform. The lock symbol will disappear, and your episode will begin to play. Your device will remember this authentication for a period of time, so you won’t have to log in every time you want to watch something.
What If I Don’t Have a TV Subscription?
If you do not subscribe to a participating TV provider, you will unfortunately be unable to watch the locked episodes. CTV does not currently offer a standalone digital subscription to unlock this content. However, you can still enjoy the wide selection of unlocked shows and episodes available on the platform for free.
