SBS Belgium introduces apps for GoPlay without Chromecast support – Image and sound – News

In the past (just like now) there was a limited number of TV channels to receive via the ether. Perhaps there was a time when that was actually free, but soon there was TV viewing fee (1956 in NL). A little later there was also advertising on TV (1967 in NL). Problem with terrestrial TV is that reception is limited, before cable we could receive NL 1,2 and 3, BRT 1 and 2, RTBF, ARD, ZDF. All channels that are paid for with public funds and with advertising after the BRT.
The Central Antenna Installation built by the municipality opened up the possibility for more public broadcasters from other countries and commercial channels (more than the TV had preset channels) for a monthly rate for retransmission.

In other words, you have always paid for TV channels with advertising, whether or not that went through cable. Sometime in the 90s there were channels without advertising (other than for the channel itself) that were behind a decoder.

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