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Re:Netflix Now Only Has 31 Movies from IMDB's Top 250 List by ArkyBeagle on Wednesday October 12, 2016 @12:40PM (#12694362)
Cable started as a way of people to not have to fool with an antenna. Then it evolved "cable only" channels.

That means that cable operators are sort of duty-bound to offer local stations. I will bet that those local stations are much less likely to be in your list of 5.

So what's mainly driving up your cost is local stations charging for carrying them. You'll see the odd game of chicken between local stations and cable operators when the local stations want to raise prices.

Re:Netflix Now Only Has 31 Movies from IMDB's Top 250 List by prodigal_erik on Wednesday October 12, 2016 @07:39PM (#12697274)
By federal law, US broadcasters can demand being retransmitted for free, or they can negotiate a price (and black themselves out if the cable operator doesn't agree to pay it).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Must-carry#United_States