CBC/Radio-Canada has taken legal action in Federal Court to challenge a directive requiring the disclosure of subscription figures for its Gem streaming platform. The move came after the information commissioner mandated that CBC reveal the number of paying Gem subscribers in response to an access-to-information request. CBC/Radio-Canada President Marie-Philippe Bouchard emphasized the sensitive nature of the subscriber data, noting its importance in commercial negotiations, particularly regarding bundling Gem with other streaming services. Bouchard highlighted the broadcaster’s reliance on commercial partnerships for revenue generation and expressed discomfort with the interpretation of the disclosure order. CBC defended its decision to withhold the figures, citing exemptions related to programming activities and potential competitive harm. Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard, in her report on the access-to-information complaint, acknowledged the relevance of subscriber numbers to CBC’s operations but deemed the exemption inapplicable to general administration data. Maynard noted the lack of demonstrated harm to CBC’s competitive position or ongoing negotiations beyond mere speculation. The commissioner’s ruling was said to conflict with the CRTC’s understanding of “sensitive commercial information.” Bouchard reiterated CBC/Radio-Canada’s pursuit of legal clarity on the matter. During a session with the House of Commons heritage committee, Bouchard faced questions about the court challenge and the refusal to disclose paid Gem subscriber numbers. She refrained from divulging the exact number of paid subscribers but mentioned that around 5 million accounts had been created. Bouchard underscored the confidentiality of paid subscriber figures for competitive reasons, seeking reconciliation between differing interpretations by the CRTC and the court. CBC introduced the Gem streaming service in 2018, offering both paid and free versions. The paid subscription, priced at $5.99 monthly, provides ad-free on-demand content and access to CBC News Network. Bouchard emphasized that the core of Gem lies in its free-to-user model, with the paid component catering to users averse to advertisements.