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]]