About 7 years ago the Dodgers signed a 10 year $3 billion cable media deal that was a money grab, and was very disruptive
Time Warner decided that they could make other cable companies in SoCal pay $5 per month per subscriber to carry Dodgers games.
This strategy was a "bridge too far." Cox and other local cable companies refused. 60% of Dodger fans could no longer watch Dodger games. Only customers of Time Warner with the sports package could watch. The fans who couldn't watch Dodger games were pissed. Some stopped buying Dodger gear, and others stopped attending Dodger games.
Guggenheim raised ticket prices, but not as much as McCourt had raised them
The Dodgers were owned by Mr. Boston parking lot magnate Frank McCourt for about 10 years, after he bought them from FOX who had purchased them from the Alston family, until 2012 when sold to Guggenheim for $2 billion. McCourt was hated. The fans were happy. The media deal revealed the Guggenheim strategy / plans for justification of the $2 billion.
The Dodgers became steady high spenders and winners under Guggenheim. The Yakees of the West, with huge help from the $300 / year media money grab.
The point of the story is: These money grabs have a way of working out.
I hate the idea of Topps not making baseball cards. I hate it as much as a lot of loyal Topps collectors [or Bowman, or Heritage or Chrome.] I hate the idea of a box of flagship becoming $500 [or a pack $20] I hate the idea of the "hit" being an autograph of 1 per box, becoming 1 per 4 boxes.
But I'm guessing ...... it will work out. I hope it works out sooner rather than later. I hope it works out without too much damage to the hobby.
"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden
