content: Technically you can serve more content for cheaper but that's why they need to become the cheap option.  Charge people $1 a month per channel.  That seems to be about as low as you have to go to be comparable in value. Of course you need a fixed cost for setting it up and laying lines.  That's why a tv-only service isn't really comparable with netflix and those other options.  You still need a line laid to get those.  What should be compared is the difference between internet cable and a tv added.  Still not worth it.  They are giving consumers too much and crap they don't even want.  Once we had only a few channels then it exploded.  Streaming may make it right for there to be fewer channels again.