NBA TV Canada

NBA TV Canada is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). It is a Canadian version of NBA TV, broadcasting programming focused on the National Basketball Association, and its Canadian franchise, the Toronto Raptors.

NBA TV Canada
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerMaple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
(Toronto Raptors Network, Ltd.)
Sister channelsLeafs Nation Network
History
LaunchedSeptember 7, 2001 (2001-09-07)
Former namesRaptors NBA TV (2001–2010)
Links
WebsiteNBA TV Canada
Availability
Cable
Available on most cable systemsChannel slots vary on each operator
Satellite
Bell Satellite TVChannel 415 (SD)
Channel 1418 (HD)
Shaw DirectChannel 130/463 (SD)
Channels 111/611 (HD)
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TVChannel 132 (SD)
Channel 632 (HD)
Bell Fibe TVChannel 415 (SD)
Channel 1415 (HD)
Bell MTSChannel 192 (SD)
Channel 1192 (HD)
Optik TVChannel 9937 (SD)
Channel 937 (HD)
SaskTelChannel 124 (SD)
Channel 424 (HD)
VMediaChannel 96 (HD)
RogersChannels 413, 511 (HD)

History

In December 2000, MLSE was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a Category 2 digital specialty channel license tentatively known as Raptors Basketball Channel, a channel described as being devoted primarily to the Toronto Raptors basketball franchise and the National Basketball Association (NBA), with additional programming related to other aspects of basketball.[1]

The channel was launched on September 7, 2001 as Raptors NBA TV, with programming focused on the NBA and other basketball-related programming, although it maintained a particular emphasis on the Toronto Raptors. On November 1, 2005, the network launched a high definition simulcast.

On October 15, 2010, the channel was renamed as NBA TV Canada, as the network began to air more programming devoted to the NBA and international basketball in general, sourced from its U.S. counterpart.[2]

The channel was valued at $21 million on behalf of the CRTC in 2012.[3]

Programming

NBA TV Canada broadcasts programming primarily related to the NBA and the Raptors, as well as coverage of other leagues including the NBA G League, Summer League, and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Regular hosts for local studio programming include David Amber, Sherman Hamilton, Matt Devlin, Leo Rautins and Jack Armstrong. The channel broadcasts NBA games sourced from NBA TV and ESPN, and NBA TV series and studio programs.

NBA TV Canada does not broadcast live Raptors games outside of the pre-season (which are split between the networks of TSN and Sportsnet—which are owned by the co-majority owners of MLSE, Rogers Communications and Bell Canada), but does broadcast full and abbreviated encores of Raptors telecasts.

References

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