Raptors NBA TV 1478712 221060158 2008-06-22T21:53:42Z Hacker2000 5218263 /* External links */ {{Infobox_TV_channel| | name = Raptors NBA TV | logofile = Raptors NBA TV logo.svg | logoalt = Raptors NBA TV logo | logosize = 200px | launch = [[September 7]], [[2001]] | closed date = | picture format = | share = | share as of = | share source = | network = | owner = [[Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.]] | slogan = | country = [[Canada]] | broadcast area = National | headquarters = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] | former names = | replaced names = | sister names = | web = [http://www.nba.com/raptors/raptorstv nba.com/raptors/raptorstv] | sat serv 1 = [[Bell ExpressVu]] | sat chan 1 = Channel 415 | sat serv 2 = [[Star Choice]] | sat chan 2 = Channel 463 | cable serv 1 = Available on many Canadian cable systems | cable chan 1 = Check local listings }} '''Raptors NBA TV''' is a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[English language]] [[Category 2 specialty channel|category 2]] [[digital cable]] [[specialty channel]] owned by [[Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.]] Raptors NBA TV broadcasts programming related to the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) with an emphasis on the [[Toronto Raptors]] as well as other [[basketball]] leagues; including [[live television|live]] games during the [[regular season]] and [[playoffs]], classic games and other NBA related aspects. Regular hosts for shows include Paul Johnson, Sherman Hamilton, [[Chuck Swirsky]], [[Leo Rautins]] and [[Jack Armstrong (sportscaster)|Jack Armstrong]]. Unable to find a major, national carrier for a significant number of Toronto Raptors regular season games ([[The Sports Network|TSN]], [[The Score Television Network|The Score]] and [[Rogers Sportsnet]] largely broadcast games in the [[Ontario]] region only), MLSE has recently put more and more games exclusively on Raptors NBA TV (24 in 2006-07). This move has been criticized by many fans, as the digital channel, while technically available across Canada, is subscribed to by few households at present (about 600,000 in total). The [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] obtained the rights to 10 games in 2007-08, meaning that Raptors NBA TV will show only 12 games exclusively. As well, distribution has been pegged to that of MLSE's other digital channel [[Leafs TV]], broadening its availability. ==Raptors NBA TV HD== [[Image:Raptors_TV_HD.jpg|left]] '''Raptors NBA TV HD''' is a [[High-definition television|high definition]] simulcast of Raptors NBA TV featuring programming from NBA TV and live NBA games. It was launched [[November 1]], [[2005]] on [[Bell ExpressVu]] and is also available on [[Rogers Cable]]. HD telecasts picked up from [[ESPN]], [[Turner Network Television|TNT]], or [[NBA TV]] are shown in HD. Starting in the 2007-2008 season, Raptors NBA TV, [[CBC Television|CBC]], [[The Score Television Network|The Score]] and [[The Sports Network|TSN]] are all going to broadcast all 82 games in high-definition. {{-}} ==External links== * [http://www.nba.com/raptors/raptorstv/ Official Raptors NBA TV website] {{Sports television in Canada}} {{Canada-tv-stub}} [[Category:Sports television networks in Canada]] [[Category:Toronto Raptors]] [[Category:National Basketball Association on television]] [[Category:Cable HD channels]] [[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2001]]