The original post: /r/television by /u/lostacohermanos on 2025-08-22 09:17:09+00:00.
Before cable and after cable we had major networks like ABC, CBS, Fox, CW and NBC all on free regular TV without cable. Just needed an antenna. Cable was basically invented in a late 1970’s period of inflation. Why did cable even take off? TV was free why were people willing to pay $200 a month for a bunch of extra channels? If they didn’t pay ESPN, CNN, TBS and HBO would have been forced to switch to free TV.