It is also why CBS and others have bought up all kinds of niche networks. TruTV (e.g.) could probably never really be profitable but as part of CBS, they get ec

It is also why CBS and others have bought up all kinds of niche networks. TruTV (e.g.) could probably never really be profitable but as part of CBS, they get economies of scale. Then all the cable and satellite companies are forced to pay for all of these extra channels. Even a marginal cost is still greater then the amount customers would pay directly or could be likely be sold through advertising. CBS also gets advantages that they can say we have X million subscribers who view our channels every single day!! Even most of that is on CBS proper and not TruTV.