But while ad-supported cable continues to soar, the broadcast nets haven't fared so well.

FORBES: Cable's Hot Summer

The ad-supported basic cable and satellite channel, available in about 62 million U.S. homes, did a road test of the new name and found significantly more people said they would watch UP over the alphabet-soup GMC.

NPR: GMC TV Changes Name To UP To Reflect Programming

Supported by Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat business secretary who is responsible for higher education, the Office for Fair Access, a regulator, wants a portion of the higher fees to be diverted to outreach efforts.

ECONOMIST: Public-service reform

While the two operate on different terms--in addition to cable's dual revenue streams (advertising dollars and subscription fees) as opposed to broadcast's singular ad-supported model, cable has far fewer programming hours to fill and less fare to promote--broadcasters would be wise to consider four of cable's best practices.

FORBES: Inside The Box

There are standards wars here, too, with some TV makers opting for the HDMI 1.3 multimedia cable interface supported by companies like Dolby and others looking ahead to the still nascent DisplayPort format from Analogix Semiconductor.

FORBES: At CES, Deja Vu

Such popularity gave Ledford the confidence to develop a full-time, ad-supported network and to persuade cable companies to pay to carry it.

FORBES: Why Grow Up?

Cable is clearly supported on this.

BBC: Competitiveness before breakfast lunch and dinner

In a note to MacRumors The CW confirmed it will mirror the experience on other platforms, with episodes available the day after they air, no cable TV authentication required and supported by advertisements.

ENGADGET

If that happens, he expects Netflix's licensing fees to rise even higher than the company has been anticipating as studios try to make up for the revenue they lose from cable providers and advertising-supported broadcasters.

MSN: Netflix's monthly video streaming tops 1 billion hours

Cable--both ad-supported and premium--now accounts for more than 55% of television viewership, up from only 10% in the early 1980s.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Though Hulu has had little trouble serving up broadcast programming from 30 Rock to Desperate Housewives, securing cable series on the free (advertiser-supported) service has proved trickier.

FORBES: Comedy Central Yanks Stewart And Colbert From Hulu

Apple and the cable companies premium paid model may prove less popular with consumers than the free ad-supported model.

FORBES: Will Apple's iTV Actually Be Samsung's SmartTV?