Overview

• The federal information commissioner ordered CBC in July to release the number of paid subscribers to its Gem streaming service.
• CBC says the commissioner misapplied the law and will ask the Federal Court to review the order.
• The request originated with University of Ottawa assistant professor Matt Malone, who appealed after CBC refused and has criticized the court challenge.
• CBC cited exemptions for programming activities and potential competitive harm in declining to provide the figures.
• Gem launched in 2018 with free and paid tiers, and CBC says it does not disclose either paid or unpaid user counts as the case proceeds without a court ruling.