I understand how NBC, CBS, TNT, USA, and most other major network and cable stations make their money. It's pretty much from the revenue they get from running commercials (I know there is probably a little more to it). HBO, Showtime and the like have a subscription based business model, this too I also get. But how in the hell do channels like The N, MTV 2, G4, or any other extended cable channel that runs practically no commercial make money? If anyone knows please tell me because everytime I'm watching The N (what? Degrassis and RFR are fun shows damn it!) and they never run a commercial I just wonder how they are making money, if at all. Do the parent companies to all these channels essentially run them until they become profitable?

Both Cable and satellite providers pay to carry them. Customers pay cable/satellite.

Aren't they often tied in with other channels owned by the same company? I seem to recall some kerfluffle in the past over cable providers compaining about having to carry low-viewership channels in order to get more popular ones (might have been one of the ESPN channels).

Yep, ESPN forced DISH to carry ABC Family and ESPN Classic.

I've been pissed off for decades (and I'm only 29) that there's still commercials at all on cable TV. I guess in my perfect little world, ads are only for the free channels, and if you pay, there should be no commercials.

Yeah, wait till “pay” channels start doing commercials. Heh.



I thought kerfluffle was spelled with e-l, not l-e. Shows what I know.

Shows what I know too:

kerfuffle
Wierd Words: kerfuffle