Part 4/10:
The ongoing dispute is fundamentally about whether the streaming ecosystem will replicate the old cable model or move toward more consumer-friendly options. Historically, cable providers and sports leagues like baseball have thrived by charging per subscriber or per organization, often regardless of viewer interest.
Consumers began to push back, wanting the freedom to opt out of paying for channels they don’t care about, especially sports. When they demanded that they pay only for the content they want, companies responded by maintaining a pay-for-everything structure—just with a different veneer—ultimately leading to higher overall costs for viewers.