[2 Methods] How to Download from CBC Gem for Offline Viewing?

CBC Gem is a popular VOD site in Canada. It provides Live TV, shows, movies, kids' videos, and exclusive CBC content. We can enjoy its movies and shows with ads for free. By subscribing to its Premium plan, we can also remove the commercials.

However, there is no official download service, even for subscribers. Don't worry, this post will break down how to download from CBC Gem so that you can keep your favorite titles offline, and save those "leaving soon" content to your personal library.

Can I Download from CBC Gem? Official Limits

Although CBC Gem provides a Premium service at $5.99/mo (free for the first 7 days), it only unlocks access to the 24/7 CBC News Network and an ad-free experience. There is no official way to download from CBC Gem.

CBC Gem is also cutting the number of supported devices. Now in 2026, the official app is not available on the 2025 Fire TV Stick 4K (running Vega OS) and iOS 15 or older versions anymore. This "Device Wall" makes downloading videos from CBC Gem into compatible MP4 video files more necessary. After all, it's the only way to keep using the hardware we already own.

How to Download from CBC Gem on PC/Mac?

There are 2 verified methods to download from CBC Gem and save the videos into MP4 files:

• A professional integrated tool (such as KeepStreams)
• An open-source command tool (such as YT-DLP on GitHub).

Each method has its own pros and cons. Check the features and usage in the following section.

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Why don't I recommend online video downloaders or browser add-ons? These tools are often vulnerable to changing DRM tech. Jump to the part 3 to check details.

Method 1: Use KeepStreams to Get MP4 Files

KeepStreams is a "set it and forget it" solution. This video downloader integrates the complex YT-DLP tech into a simple and user-friendly UI. It's designed specifically to bypass the technical hurdles that CBC Gem throws at us and download videos in original 1080p and even 4K videos.

What's more, it also supports Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and many other streaming services. KeepStreams is built with an ad-removal function, so that you can enjoy the premium ad-free experience even with a free account.

KeepStreams One

Download videos from 3,000+ streaming services and sites, and save them in MP4 or MKV format in high quality.

• Save videos in 720p, 1080p, and 4K original quality
• Support both VOD services and video-sharing sites
• Support Dolby Atmos, EAC3 5.1, and AAC 2.0 audio
• Enjoy HDR10 and Dolby Vision clarity offline
• Convert downloads into MP4/MKV format
• Remove all ads from downloaded videos
• Select the languages of audio and subtitles
• Save subtitles into SRT files
• Auto-download and batch download mode
• Free trial to download 3 videos from each service
• Download 720p videos (free-to-watch) from CBC Gem for free

 Free Trial  Free Trial

Learn More

If you don't want the download services other than the CBC Gem, choose KeepStreams for M3U8 to save budget. Every new user can enjoy 3 free downloads in 30 days. What's more, it's totally free to use KeepStreams to download unencrypted videos from CBC Gem in 720p.

Here's how to download video from CBC Gem with KeepStreams:

KeepStreams works by analyzing the videos you're playing in the built-in browser. Therefore, it's necessary to log in to your account to play videos or access them in higher quality. Click on the orange download button on the bottom right to allow KeepStreams to analyze videos.

After the analysis, a settings window will pop up. Select the episodes, resolution, format, video codec, audio, and subtitles (if available) here. Click on Download Now to save the videos.

Go to the Downloads tab to check the real-time download progress. And go to the Download section to find all downloaded videos saved on your PC.

For better understanding, here's a video tutorial on what KeepStreams is and how to use it to download videos:

Method 2: Use YT-DLP (Command Tool)

If you don't want to pay for downloading Gem videos, a command-line tool like YT-DLP is the best choice. It's open-source, 100% safe, and free to use. As a powerful tool designed for users with a technical background, YT-DLP may seem complex for most of us.

Another drawback is that YT-DLP is vulnerable to CBC Gem's DRM changes. Since this tool hasn't been updated for years, it can not handle new DRM tech. When using this tool to download Premium videos on CBC Gem, it may often fail.

Here's how to download CBC Gem videos using YT-DLP on a Windows computer. Follow these steps:

1. Download the yt-dlp.exe that matches your system.
2. Create a new folder named yt-dlp on your Drive C.
3. Move the downloaded yt-dlp.exe file into this folder.

4. Search for System (Control Panel) on your computer.
5. Click on the Advanced system settings link.

6. In the pop-up window, click on Environment Variables.

7. In the System variables section, select Path and click on Edit.

8. Click on New and type in the folder path C:\yt-dlp\ you created earlier.

9. Click OK to close all remaining windows.
10. Visit the CBC Gem website and sign in to your account.
11. Browse CBC Gem for the video you want to download.
12. Once you find the video, press F12 to open DevTools and switch to the Network tab.

13. Press F5 to reload the page and then play the video you want to download.
14. In the DevTools, search for m3u8 in the Filter box. You should see a request beginning with desktop_master.m3u8.
15. Select this request and copy the Request URL from the Headers tab.
16. Right-click on the Start button and select Run.
17. Type in cmd and click OK to open the Command Prompt.

18. Enter the command yt-dlp and press Enter.

19. YT-DLP will start analyzing and downloading your desired video immediately.

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YT-DLP also provides many additional features, such as subtitle saving and post-processing. For these customization options, refer to the YT-DLP official instruction page.

While YT-DLP is great for developers, it's becoming a "cat-and-mouse" game that requires constant script updates. For most people, a dedicated downloader that handles these handshake protocols automatically is the way to go.

[Bonus] Why Common Downloaders Often Fail in 2026 

If you often get a "403 Forbidden", "No Video Found", or "Download failed" error when using a random browser extension or a web-based downloader, check the 3 major reasons:

• 🔐 DRM Encryption: According to 2025 tech audits, CBC has upgraded its DRM tech. Most "generic" downloaders that haven't been updated for a long time can't decrypt these files.
• Header Check: CBC Gem now checks for specific "Headers" (like Referer and User-Agent). If your tool doesn't "pretend" to be a real browser perfectly, the server simply hangs up on you.
• Dynamic Tokenization: The "m3u8" links (the index files for video) are now heavily tokenized. They are tied to your specific session and IP address. By the time a web-downloader tries to grab it, the link has already expired.

How to Download from CBC Gem on Mobile or TV?

Although CBC Gem is stopping the support of certain devices, like Fire TV (Vega OS), we can still take advantage of the compatibility brought by the MP4 format. Here's how:

Follow the KeepStreams or YT-DLP steps mentioned above to download videos from CBC Gem into MP4 files.

The table shows the most convenient way to transfer to different devices.

Some tips for choosing the right transferring method:

• Best for New Fire TV sticks: Use a Media Server like Jellyfin or Plex.
• Best for Stability: USB drive (zero reliance on your home WiFi).
• Recommended players: VLC or MX Player

In this way, we can move the downloaded MP4 video files to mobiles, TVs, or other devices like gaming consoles for offline viewing anytime, anywhere.

[Tips] How to Watch CBC Gem Outside Canada?

If you live outside Canada, but still want to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics on CBC Gem, is it possible? Of course yes, all we need is a solid VPN, such as NordVPN. Set the server to Canada and play the videos or live on CBC Gem as usual.

If the video always buffers while playing, it's recommended to use KeepStreams to download video from CBC Gem (with VPN on) to avoid the problem. After you get the video files locally, the regional limit never bothers you anymore.

Conclusion

Whether you're catching up on the latest season of Murdoch Mysteries or making sure you don't miss a single second of the 2026 Winter Olympics, you shouldn't be limited by a "Download" button that doesn't exist on CBC Gem.

This post introduces 2 ways to download video from CBC Gem, guides you to watch them on PCs, mobiles, TVs offline, and shares tips to watch CBC Gem outside Canada. Hope my own experience can help you enjoy your favorite Gem content anytime, anywhere.