@atomicpoet

I think this is "half-true".

What really happens is that artists give other artists exposure by drawing an audience to a platform/channel/network/etc.

The reason you wanted your show on network television was because people were watching network television; the reason they were watching was because of the other shows on that network.

And no one watched it for the ads, but the ads were why you got paid (exposure doesn't pay your rent).