I'm glad you brought the Playboy channel up. I think that's a good example of what happens when the content providers have to put their product out there all alone on the open market and let the consumer decide the price. No bundling, no "must include it in this package", just pure a la carte and see how it fares.
I've never subscribed to the Playboy channel, but I've watched the pricing over the years. Seems like I remember it being $20 or more in the past, now it's $16. I'm pretty sure that in all the years it's been available, it hasn't gone up much if any. Look what has happened to all the premium channels, HBO and such. In order to keep subscribers, they've had to offer half off specials and lower prices.
I say let the locals do the same, and that's what DISH is attempting by separating them out. I imagine lot's of people have dropped the locals and gone OTA. Those people just don't see the value.
I think if content providers had to put all their products out there a la carte, it would solve all these negotiations and channel drops. Let the market determine the value of each channel individually.
Just a few thoughts from the lower third of my brain.
