Most of the US market had shifted to cable TV by the introduction of digital TV, and simply wasn't aware that it existed. I think there's a bit of a generation

Most of the US market had shifted to cable TV by the introduction of digital TV, and simply wasn't aware that it existed. I think there's a bit of a generational divide: older people think of the cable companies as the institution that brought us 500 channels. Younger people either can't imagine a world without cable TV, or loathe the cable companies for high prices and poor service. I'm the latter, and have been eager to find any way to reduce any connection to the big telecom companies. Right now, rabbit ears + Netflix/Hulu + cable internet is just one element short of perfect.