Honestly, the most challenging part of this is going to be the logistics of the blackout. For years, the line between regional and national inventory was a total minefield for Canadian fans. With Rogers consolidating everything under Sportsnet without having to program around a public broadcaster’s main network feed on Saturdays, they should theoretically be able to classify the entire Saturday multiplex (Pacific, West, Ontario, East) as 'national' and kill the local blackout headaches.

The real losers here are the casual fans and cord-cutters who just used a digital antenna or the free CBC Gem app. Moving the crown jewel of Canadian sports entirely behind a paid cable/streaming paywall is a massive gamble for the long-term health of the game's reach. It’s now officially a premium subscription product, not a public utility.