The 8008 was: Blinky lights WAS: The SR71 Blackbird was designed ENTIRELYwith slide rules 657

I'd expect the more popular programs would charge more, and live content would be highest (with a discount for people who watch it later on demand). Low-budget shows would attract audiences either by charging less money or by having significantly better writing than the popular crap on prime time today.

One of the challenges in a pay-per-show model is that it's difficult to attract viewers for new content. They'd probably have to offer the first few episodes free to get people hooked.

More likely, there would be distributors that would charge people a flat rate per month for up to a certain number of hours-month, similar to how cell phones are billed. Most households would be under the lowest limit and pay less than they pay for all-you-can-watch cable or satellite service today. Instead of paying for access to a number of channels, they'd be paying for a given number of hours -- far more logical.

You still have to deal with translating, either via dubbing or subbreastling, and that costs money. If people overseas are content watching Hollywood's shows in English, though, I see no reason for them to pay more. This is no different than me paying more to see a French movie subbreastled in English (which helps me work on my French vocabulary and fluency as a bonus).

S

-- Stephen Sprunk "Those people who think they know everything CCIE #3723 are a great annoyance to those of us who do." K5SSS --Isaac Asimov