It does seem unfair, but I can see the reasoning behind it. We're paying for access to certain channels, which is what cable does. The commercials are how the actors, writers, and producers of the shows themselves get paid. The money we pay for access to those channels isn't going to the specific shows we watch.
Same basic concept (skip to 2:40): http://www.youtube.com/watch?fe...d927h0I#t=160s
It does seem unfair, but I can see the reasoning behind it. We're paying for access to certain channels, which is what cable does. The commercials are how the actors, writers, and producers of the shows themselves get paid. The money we pay for access to those channels isn't going to the specific shows we watch.