Cost will very likely move in the direction of drones and not human-powered helicopters. Or, looking at another way, once Police departments are flying drones

Cost will very likely move in the direction of drones and not human-powered helicopters. Or, looking at another way, once Police departments are flying drones everywhere, and if that footage were accessible to citizens, then news orgs would for sure stop paying for the current system. That's a big "if", though. It just as easily might be the drones come, but the footage is locked up behind legal departments.