It took another four decades when cable broadcasters started using pay-per-view on a widespread basis.
His television department has series and made-for-television films set up with television networks and cable broadcasters.
But the willingness of NTL's creditors to strike a deal reflects the view that, unlike ITV Digital, the cable broadcaster's business model is fundamentally sound.
Newspaper and large company can hold a 10-percent stake in terrestrial broadcaster, a 30-percent stake in cable broadcaster, a 49-percent stakein IPTV or news channel.
And conduit companies, like television networks and cable broadcasters, distribute the goods.
On October 1, 2010 Scar3D was the first-ever stereoscopic 3D Video-on-demand film released through major cable broadcasters for 3D televisions in the United States.
If cable broadcasters just showed whatever they wanted or whatever was cheap, or whatever earned them brownie-points with the Government - their earnings would tumble overnight.
Communications laws require cable broadcasters to provide network access.
The launch of the channel took place without any agreement being reached with a cable broadcaster.
"On the other side of the void are cable operators putting pressure on cable broadcasters for unique and original programming," he continued.