[Bernard]

If the NFL and other expensive hobbies could all migrate away from "free" TV entirely, then the free TV could become less expensive and charge the cable companies less, so the cable companies could charge less for monthly service, and so on....

Works in a macroeconomic model, but probably won't happen.

[Red Badger]

The cable company has no real competition, so no incentive to lower their prices.

Same with Dish/DirecTV. They aren’t competitors they are partners. There was talk of a merger a while back.

Over-the-air broadcast TV could possibly go Pay to Play with a setup similar to the satellite companies, or an additional circuit added to all new TVs that decodes a key code to allow you to watch. Connect it to the Web and they can meter it just like your electricity bill.....................