I'll bit to...........I think ZERO is the perfect number in all seriousness!...ZERO...why? First its free they get money from advertising!....Second they base those ads by viewership, so they use the number by adding me to their over all numbers and then turn around and charge me what they give away free!........I dont think that could be more simple.....Classic double dipping, and on top of it they use all satellite to help inflate their advertising dollars....I have no empathy for money grubbing corporations!.....Why does it go up every contract?....Same programming, same ads, but they deserve more?.....In the olden days they were a public service.....Now just whores!
Funny, you answered the question I didn't ask. First you said you'd be fine with a nominal fee, now you don't want to pay anything. OK, so don't. You have that option with Dish.
ESPN et al ALSO has adds and also charges for you to receive them. And I bet their price goes up every contract also.
You want OTA for free, here are your options:
1) Move somewhere where you can pick it up with an antenna.
2) Lobby your lawmakers to change the laws
That's it. Crying on an internet message board does nothing.