Sat TV for free will never die
When I started selling/installing DVB-S in 1992, people paid 1,500 for a receiver to get 5 channels. There has never been more channels available, and with the multi-casting of so many channels for each transponder, it has never cost them less to broadcast. So, where is my "ranching for profit" and "The Cattlemans Channel"? It's being held back by the newest large Corp. that want to be the only broadcaster; own all the broadcast rights; buy's other smaller cable/channel/communication companies; and wants to not spend money on a "new" channel, but instead wants to syndicate a "program" like it, and show it on one of his channels, making instant profit, and have instant gratification, knowing he could've spent millions, and never made a cent.
As the rest have said; is all too true. Internet bandwidth is not costly; but is by no means the easiest way to get started or to broadcast to the most people whom will sell your programs and channels,cable;pie sky dishes (look at "the sportsmans channels"); fiber; No matter what, it is a business, and the more hands you can get your channel into, the more you will make.
Look at your local channels, they have noless value on their ad dollar (the most); and they have their most valuable programs on replay on every channel around to get re-payed...
The bandwidth game is really where satellite tv/microwaves have been; and they get globalized in its use; and nowhere of a CONUS cannot be seen with one, and mileage, 44k miles, to really, there isn't a limit when you travel on light...As such, 50 MHz per transponder has neverbeen worth more...