They can and do have franchise agreements where one provider gets the vast majority of the region, leaving only the less desirable scraps for someone else. As

They can and do have franchise agreements where one provider gets the vast majority of the region, leaving only the less desirable scraps for someone else. As an example, see the cable franchise map link (in bold) here https://www.seattle.gov/cable/franchises.htm https://www.seattle.gov/cable/franchises.htm --thankfully it's not a perpetual contract.