Yes? Netflix had 20 million subscribers in 2010. At additional $50 per year per subscriber, that's $1B a year. More than enough to be profitable with regular loan financing at market rates.

> So how would that have helped smaller competitors? Where were they going to get the money from to compete if not other lines of businesses or borrowing?

By borrowing at market rates and pricing services to cover the loan payments.

You're actually making a good argument why cross-financing should not exist at all and that we all would probably be better without it.