Subscription channels emerged with no advertisements and the method for measuring audiences grew with the Nielsen People Meter.
During the 1990s, in spite of the new broadcast competitors, viewers carried on to switch from prime time viewing to cable, even though the rate wasn't as high as before.
The VCR further helped viewers to break away from the network era by enabling them to record a program and view it when they wanted to.
The emergence of so many new networks and channels changed the type of programming produced in order to gain more ratings points.
The ability for cable channels to succeed with smaller audiences made broadcasters' mission more difficult, because viewers now had the option to choose which program would satisfy their needs.
During the multi-channel transition, distribution windows expanded to include cable networks, direct sale on VCR tapes, and then DVD and VOD (Video on demand).
In 2006, broadband internet distribution of video became overwhelmingly popular, which diminished the domination of cable and satellite as the only source for most channels to be able to reach the home.