Yes. It is much more complicated. Back in the day all we had to do is turn the TV on Saturday night (HNIC) and we'd get to watch a Leaf or Habs game. Then they started two games on HNIC. That was glorious!
Not complicated but also got to watch one whole game a week (maybe 2)!
If you happened to be in the broadcast area of a local team channel and ponied up the money for cable you could watch a good chunk of those games. If that was your team.
Adding in good TV prices then and now, what inflation does to a cable price back then I'd wager that it may actually be cheaper now than before.