That's not even remotely true. People pay for lots of subscription services; it's getting ridiculous. And we pay a very dear price indeed for getting blasted with ads and propaganda.

> nat geo magazine used to have millions of loyal subscribers.

And then Rupert Murdoch bought them. Immediately, people knew it would get strip mined to the bone and then sold off for parts. If anything, I'm surprised it hasn't been faster and uglier.

... If the negative externalities of advertising and propaganda were costed in, the entire media landscape would be wholly different. Most people can't even imagine how different.

The problem isn't that people aren't paying for content, it's that people are the product now; even when they pay.

I love showing my kids documentaries, but even the majority of those now are a bit unbearable with over the top voiceovers, etc.