Interesting. I think part of the issue, in addition to the increasing cost of paid services, is the fact that it is so frustrating to get invested in a new show only for it to get suddenly cancelled… having ended the season on a cliff hanger. Almost as bad is waiting three years for a new season (that character was a little kid… why do they now have gray hair?).
It is a problem across the industry, but especially with the paid streaming services. I think a lot of viewers, myself included, are reluctant to start a new show until it has a finished its run, or at least has enough seasons that you can safely assume that the network/streaming service is committed to it.
Just one man’s opinion.
Right now, I am re-watching the Rockford Files. The whole run is on Prime.