The content is free because it is distributed over the public airwaves. If you distribute it in a way that does not use the public airwaves, the basis for making it free to the public disappears. Also, broadcasters couldn&#x27;t care less if people cut the cable. They only reason they cared about Aereo is because they&#x27;re in a bitter war with the cable companies over retransmission fees, and if Aereo can stream broadcast content for free, that could undermine broadcasters&#x27; leverage over cable companies.<p>The system definitely needs to be rethought. The sensible thing to do would be to simply get rid of free public broadcasting and the associated copyright exceptions. Free up the airwaves, and let broadcasters sell content directly to cable and internet companies. But as Netflix is finding out, content is king. There is little room for simple middle-men like Aereo to make money when they can&#x27;t get content for free.