Originally, all cable channels were ad-free, because you paid for them. There were several tiers in cable. Over the air channels being retransmitted (mostly wi

Originally, all cable channels were ad-free, because you paid for them. There were several tiers in cable. Over the air channels being retransmitted (mostly with commercials, except PBS) A small number of premium channels led by HBO that were an extra fee. Then "basic channels" a bunch of non premium channels like TBS, ESPN, MTV, USA Network that had ads. Some basic cable channels didn't have ads. Then there were public benefit channels without ads like C-Span, and local public access. But from the earliest days, there were ad supported cable channels.