Originally Posted by Cynthetiq

Basic cable is not free.

Broadcast aerial is.

I can tell you that almost in NYC has access to broadcast TV for free as most apartments buildings will not allow one to put an antennae on the rooftop without some form of payment to the building owner. I believe ours was $1/month.

If you ask almost anyone, it's quite rare to hear someone say that they don't have cable TV, unlike in the 80's when cable penetration was low and cable infrastructure still being built.

I also know that in Iceland each household has to pay for the government channel, I don't recall the fee.

I'm also pretty sure there are some taxes built into the cost of the TV set you purchase not just the sales tax.