[NB Josh]

I believe (don't hold me to this) that ESPN and NBA TV hold US rights. I believe that for Canada The Score broadcasts any Canadian games and Raptors TV will likely get the rest. There is no reason that Raptors TV shouldn't cover it.

As I'm writing this I just found ESPN's schedule, some of these are on ESPN2, not that it matters for Canadian viewers

8/28, 11:00pm - Croatia vs. United States (tape delay)
8/29, 9:30am - United States vs. Slovenia
8/30, 2:30pm - Brazil vs. United States
9/1, 12:00pm - United States vs. Iran
9/2, 9:30am - Tunisia vs. United States
9/6, 11:00am - Round of 16
9/9, 11:00am - Quarter Final
9/12, 2:30pm - Championship Game

I'll do some looking for NBA TV's schedule. If The Score doesn't make an announcement about their coverage soon, then I'm planning on emailing them about this, Serie A and college football.

 

[NB Josh]

The fact that all of the big US players (Kobe, Lebron, Bosh, Wade) won't be there doesn't help it, especially in North America. Because of that I'd say Olympic basketball is that sport's version of the football World Cup, where the World Championship is much more comparable to hockey's World Championship.

 

[NB Josh]

Aside from the World Classic, the Canadian baseball team consists solely of amateurs and minor leaguers. There would be almost no interest in any of its games and wouldn't be worth the cost of producing the games in the first place.

 

[NB Josh]

I had thought that Raptors TV would pick up some games, but it doesn't appear that will be the case. I have emailed them to confirm this and I'll let everyone know what they send back.

 

[NB Josh]

How does airing football over basketball make them look bad? Football gets 2x the ratings, if not more.

In the same way, curling gets 2-3x the ratings that soccer gets. Canada will always be a country where hockey, football (NFL and CFL), curling and baseball rule. Every other sport will always be second tier because the ratings just aren't anywhere near as good. The exception is "big events" like the Olympics and World Cup.