You keep insisting that "cable has nothing to do with it." Why not? Streaming services are (and have always been) the next step in entertainment. From newspaper, to radio, to tv... We have always had to pay while also getting ads regardless of "live" status.
Streamers started without ads because they had to compete with cable. Now that cable is losing its foothold and is no longer a competitor, streamers are injecting ads to maximize profits.
Cable is the vehicle. The big black wire. I keep insisting because I'm right.
Cable television began as CATV: Community Antenna Television. It was nothing more than improved reception.
Antennas were configured at a Head End and the signals were distributed to customers.
The Head End was high enough to receive the TV signals, channels 2-13 in my day.
Cable companies use Ad Insertion to do just that, insert ads into national networks.
If you see a local ad on ESPN, that is the cable company. A lot like how The Weather Channel puts the "local on the 8s" on cable.
Cable TV is like the Internet is to streaming.
I'm 65 years old and was associated with CATV at 10 years old. I've probably forgotten more than you will ever understand.
Netflix is doing what the others are doing. Making an ad-supported tier.
They can't go FREE because they don't own most of the content they provide.
Peacock is NBC/Universal owned by Comcast. They show content they OWN.
Their free version is limited and you need to pay to get full benefit.
You can pay for the ad-supported version or go all-in.