It costs a lot of money to produce shows and run a broadcast network. If some of that cost is offset by licensing fees, there's a certain amount of logic to the idea.
Well, it's understood it costs a lot of money to produce shows but, we also have to put up with MASSIVE advertisers, which I would have thought is whom sponsors the expensive shows in the first place, wouldn't you say?
Many folks don't agree with the fees and I kinda see their point, specially the ones who don't have a tele.