A minor point, but I always referred to "FP" as fixed process, not free preview. There IS another mode that allows receivers that are subscribed to something view programming for free, but I don't know what that mode is called. FP mode doesn't have anything to do with subscriptions, is simply a fixed key mode, ie the signal is encrypted, but is encrypted with a key that all GI/MOT receivers know. Often, however, at least for commercial units, receivers can only view FP mode if they have at one time in their history been authorized. Much of what has been in FP mode over the years, was quite obviously not FP as any kind of a preview, it just apparently happened to be an easy mode for the uplinkers to use. For example, when the PBS transponders used to be DCII, most of them were FP, and obviously this had nothing to do with free previews. A couple of the NET channels are still in FP mode, while most are now ZK, again, pretty clear that it has nothing to do with preview. You used to find find DCII signals such as Merrill Lynch that were in FP mode, sending market info to their various offices, again obviously not any kind of a preview. I think FP is just an easy way for uplinkers to set their equipment that doesn't involve transmitting any keys to the intended recipients.
SOOO, except for the likelihood that there will be a lot less DCII up there, I don't think that the end of subscription services will have much affect on the amount of FP programming up there, mainly because much of the FP stuff never had anything to do with subscription services anyway. In fact, once people start throwing away their 4DTVs, I think there will probably be MORE FP signals up there for those of us with commercial receivers to view, because the uplinkers will figure that there aren't enough people capable of viewing their signals anyway.
