I think the real issue is not the availability of this streaming service but that they will probably kill TV/cable broadcasts in order to funnel those Telco revenues to them e.g. hockey won't be available on any station carried by cable/dish/antenna, you need to subscribe to a streaming service or no Habs for you.
edit: the MLS (soccer) rights going to Apple recently is a good blueprint for this, the games are also available on TV (for now) but they chose only 1 TV partner and the focus is streaming
Fox Sports will keep on broadcasting Major League Soccer games in the U.S. as part of a four-year agreement, ending the run of ESPN and ABC, which had carried matches since the league launched in 1996. MLS also announced linear television agreements with TSN on Tuesday.
www.ctvnews.ca
MLS deputy commissioner Gary Stevenson noted the media deals, beginning with Apple, were built with a streaming-first mentality. The league has found 83% of its fans watch sports on streaming devices or recorded TV during an average week, up from 52% for all TV viewers.
....
Apple will be the exclusive English and French-language carrier of the Leagues Cup quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. It will also be the sole worldwide carrier for the All-Star game.
The linear broadcasters [TV stations]
will use a feed from MLS as the league takes over production for the first time. It is similar to the way European soccer leagues do business.