If you receive as many newsletters as I do about the state of television, you probably noticed a distinct trend in streaming, over-the-top (OTT) video accessibility. It was recently revealed that Canada will soon be requiring cable providers to offer a basic entry-level service that can be customized in an ala carte fashion. And other media companies are beginning to offer new ways to receive television programming without a hefty subscription fee.

At the same time, pay TV has seen a marked decline in subscribers – affectionately known as cord-cutters – and it shows few signs of slowing. This may explain why the trend is happening outside the U.S., but not here. The subscription model has made some people very wealthy, so it’s not surprising that we are last to get the freedom to choose that our own media companies are offering abroad. The articles below are just some of what I’ve been seeing lately.

“Want control over your cable bill? Move to Canada.”

“Cable A La Carte Is Becoming a Reality — Outside the U.S.”

“Starz CEO Touts Direct-to-Consumer Offering Outside the U.S.”

“Kagan: Pay TV Lost 1.1M Subs in 2015”

But as more consumers are viewing video on their mobile devices, as well as with the success of providers such as Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, and streaming devices (Chromecast, Roku) and connected TV sets get a foothold in domestic households, we see cable providers offering so-called skinny bundles, and specialized packages for premium channels like HBO and Showtime. Yes, they are adapting, but slowly and very cautiously. Sad that we are the last to reap the benefits of these new technologies, but as a rich nation, we are also the last bastion of reliable revenue.