Noun
basic cable (uncountable)
(US) A tier of pay television which has neither the broad audience of terrestrial channels nor the cachet of premium channels.
Public radio is the last oasis of free and independent music. For satellite radio channels, you have to subscribe; commercial stations are as corporate as basic cable. Nellie McKay
Basic cable, however, is getting ready to say goodbye to one of its hall-of-famers. Source: Internet