For some, this is simply a change in the way things are done, for others, primarily those in Quebec (like me), this is a new beginning. Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment Ltd. Broadcast Division announced Friday October 15, 2010, that the digital cable channel Raptors TV will now be called NBA TV Canada. The name change is based on new programming planned for the channel, such as covering more teams, taking advantage of new technology for the medium, among other things. Reports have shown that live NBA game viewership has risen 140% and 2.1 million people across Canada now participate in the popular sport.
NBA TV Canada will be home to 102 live games, including more than 25 showcasing the Lakers, Heat, Celtics and Suns, all in High-Definition. It will also host the Raptors Pre and Post game shows, Euroleague, WNBA, Raptors Game in an Hour and Raptors this week.
The mention of a new beginning for Quebec was due to the fact that Videotron, a Quebec only digital cable provider, never once offered Raptors TV to its clients. Satellite television companies across the country and in Quebec have carried the station for years. It is only now available, for the first time without a satellite, to the people of Quebec.
After many phone calls, online petitions and online support for the NBA and basketball as a whole, basketball fans can now rejoice. The popularity of the sport has reached global proportions, and as frustrating as the wait was, it was just a matter of time.
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