A cover charge usually works best when a bar is covering an event that is already extra on the residential cable bill, but hopefully these new rates won't steer bars in a direction of cover charges for all the games...
(Also, hopefully not an increase in menu prices either...)

One way or another, patrons will wind up footing the extra cost. It's inevitable and the only ones that will profit are Bell & Rogers.

Q: What's Bell and Rogers favourite board game?

A: Monopoly. 

The new charges kick in on Monday. How long before the bars start having to raise their prices? The best guess is not long.

From The Star:

"Of course, it’s only a matter of time before bars and pubs — which, according to Restaurants Canada, operate on an average profit margin of 4.1 per cent before tax — pass along those costs in the form of more expensive food and beverages.

As for recourse, [James Rilett, Ontario vice-president of Restaurants Canada] says it is not a matter for the CRTC but that he has contacted the Competition Bureau, and heard that a formal complaint has been filed. But other than that, bars and restaurants are just going to have to eat the new costs. After all, what is a sports bar without sports?"

Soaring bar tab for sports TV sends shockwaves

Where I live...sportsnet is not part of the regular basic package...not so much as 1 feed.  So?  No baseball...and almost no hockey 'cept for the odd game on CBC.

I am now entirely used to not watching either.  At NO time will I pay extra for either.  Bars should bite the bullet.  They won't but they should.

No bell.  No rogers.  I'm way beyond over it.  Their 'regular' tv is pretty poop infested too.