They get by because cable operators include them in basic cable packages that give them a slice of cable rates regardless of whether anyone watches. A la carte cable pricing will destroy them.
>>They get by because cable operators include them in basic cable packages that give them a slice of cable rates regardless of whether anyone watches. A la carte cable pricing will destroy them. <<
And that indeed is next — already people are abandoning Cable and Satellite for Hulu, Amazon, Netflix and others that allow cafeteria watching.
Just like many people today are dropping Land lines in favor of 100% cell, scheduled programming is on its way out (frankly I just DVR what I like and watch it at my leisure).