Part 15/17:
Finally, the breakdown of the streaming battles between Disney (owner of Hulu) and Google (owner of YouTube TV) symbolizes the ongoing shift in content delivery. The fight over channel carriage, subscription fees, and consumer choice echoes the broader decline of cable TV and the rise of the direct-to-consumer model.
The Cable Model Returns?
Despite efforts to free consumers from traditional cable plans, the reality is that content providers are restructuring their deals in a way that ultimately resembles cable—content fees, subscription tiers, and bundled content. The strategic games, driven by egos and dollar signs, threaten to put viewers right back into the loop of paying more for less control.