Love Island US Moves to Paid Streaming Service in Canada

Canadian viewers can no longer stream Love Island USA for free on CTV platforms after the service moved the show to Crave.

This shift represents a significant change in how Bell Media distributes high-demand reality content, moving from a free-to-access model to a subscription-based system. For many fans, this creates a financial barrier to accessing a series that was previously available without a monthly fee.

CTV discontinued its free-streaming app and website, shifting all Love Island USA content to the paid Crave platform ^[1]. This change became effective May 1, 2024 ^[2]. The transition coincided with the premiere of Season 8, which debuted during the first week of May 2024 ^[3].

While the bulk of the series now requires a paid subscription, Crave has offered the first five episodes of the season for free ^[4]. This limited window allows new viewers to sample the content before committing to a monthly payment plan. However, the removal of the CTV app and website means that the previous method of free, full-season access is no longer an option for those in Canada.

Viewers who previously relied on the CTV website or app to follow the contestants now find those portals discontinued ^[1]. The move consolidates Bell Media's streaming offerings under the Crave umbrella, a strategy aimed at increasing the platform's subscriber base by leveraging popular U.S. imports.

Fans have reacted to the change on social media, noting the sudden disappearance of the show from the CTV interface. Because the change occurred exactly as the new season launched, many viewers discovered the paywall only after attempting to watch the premiere episodes.