But the high quality content (when there is any) on cable ends up on extra channels that require you to pay more. IMHO TV was better OTA than on cable. You had a small number of local channels and they had to compete for eyeballs. Content was much better. Cable provides a way to shovel in every little crappy thing to satisfy everyone with something, and yet they still split out the best for extra money. Discovery channel split, even Disney split - which is why ratings dropped for Phinias and Ferb. Great show, but not enough pull for people to pay extra to get it, but they cancelled instead of moving it back.