If TV is "your only link to the outside world" what do you use the internet for? TV isn't a "link" at all, it's at best a telescope.

You are the product of DirecTV (or any other TV business) and they sell you to businesses that are interested to place commercials. Those are the customers. Claiming that "you" are
their customer is merely political correctness. Do you have any idea how much money they make with the commercials compared to the membership payments? If people are willing to pay 500$ per month (just a random guess), commercials might not be required.