I think you are exactly right on your assessment. FSSN was a fantastic idea which I'm sure was intended mainly for state-wide hockey exposure. Now, with present technology, it's exceeded that.
It's enabled Sioux hockey fans all over the country to see a bunch of games via satellite. I especially agree with the Friday/Saturday comment. Personally, I get to see a couple of games at the REA a year. The rest I catch on TV when they're available. It sure helps pass the winter. To go home to a nice warm basement with a big screen to watch Sioux hockey when it's 20 below is pretty sweet. In my small (2,000) ND community, there's way more Sioux hockey fans then there was 20 years ago. And, many of them are Bison FB fans.