Yes but how many of them had programmes worth watching on them?
Compared to the channels I see are being broadcast on Sky nowadays, quite a lot!! Of course, many were watched for comedy value. Like the news broadcast on an egyptian channel where you saw a hand come into view handing the presenter a piece of paper with breaking news on it..........
Also, once you "zapped" your way through all the different channels there was usually something worth watching
(Apologies for thread drift)