This reminds me of what I call the "TF1 effect". TF1 is the biggest TV channel in France and, IIRC, in Europe. It's (now) a private channel, operated with ads.

This reminds me of what I call the "TF1 effect". TF1 is the biggest TV channel in France and, IIRC, in Europe. It's (now) a private channel, operated with ads. I use it as an example, but the point stands for all similar TV channels. It doesn't need to satisfy its viewers a lot. It just needs to satisfy N users enough that they don't switch to another channel, and use their "brain availability time" (to use the words of TF1's former CEO) with them instead. This creates zero incentive to produce good content; only addictive, low cost, shitty content that many people will choose.