Kodi is media player software that runs on a number of platforms and hardware. I run it on both a RaspberryPi and on my android tablet. It has add-ons, just like firestick, that offer access to streaming services, iptv etc (both legal and otherwise) It’s perhaps gained notoriety as an illegal platform for streaming sports etc but the Kodi sofware itself is completely legit. It’s the add-on use that’s questionable.
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I agree, ours is a one off payment each year of about £60, if it gets canned no big deal.
It is possible to DIY ‘doctor’ a fire stick for free. Google tells you how.
Amazon knows if you are misusing the stick and can disable the apps. Even on the old stick, (such as the one I have).
There are other devices. Roku, Google to name but two.
Some, unbranded or ‘happynames’ on sale online, are very cheap, but often don’t work or may contain malware.
It is possible to load APK versions of TV apps, such as Bee TV, on a tablet, (or maybe laptop, IDK) then ‘cast’ or ‘mirror’ the image to your smart tv.
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Perhaps I wasn’t sufficiently explicit, I meant on an IPTV service. Most of the ones worth having come at a cost.
I still pay my BBC tv licence and have a Privado VPN on an app. Works quite well but for some reason I have to sometimes disable/re-enable it and sometimes clear the cache on my Auntie app during a viewing session. Had the same issue with a Nord VPN. A bit irritating but I can live with it for the amount of viewing I do. The other day Mubi offered me two months subscription for a euro. Some very good films on their platform. We also have access to the Arte film streaming library via the Cahors Mediatheque for 10 Euros/yr.
Saying that I spend most of my time watching Youtube - advert free using the Brave browser.
Be careful when paying for a vpn. I thought I was savvy but got caught out. I believed I had purchased a 1 month sub from Nord but they took another payment when the month ended. They have told me it’s in the T&C s, so I have no chance of a refund. You live and learn. Well, I don’t. 
edit to add…we all read those T&Cs, right?
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Thanks for that, well worth noting.
I knew I could cancel within first 30 days for a full refund, but I didn’t want to be a ‘cheat’ (well, any more of a cheat) so was happy to pay for a month. It worked out at 1 euro per day for uk tv on my hols, so no big deal.
Just to add, I saw something the other day about France clamping down on social media for kids (good imo) and they are now looking at vpns in a simliar way, (bad imo)
Well done Spain in the same area. 
Wasn’t it a lot nicer when countries were not making it difficult to be friendly with neighbouring countries. It seems everyone is pulling up their respective drawbridges and making everyone stay where they are.
The primary schools around here have computer/phone/tablet sessions with the gendarmes teaching them all about the terrible and good things they can use these devices for. At the end of the course, the class is awarded an attestation to say they attended and have been informed of the dangers and understood them.
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No, your point was clear. I just wanted to say that if you want to do the IPTV thing, it is possible to do it for free. Or at least it WAS possible, but the landscape is changing rapidly.
I’m not exactly sure what you mean, but the blocking of channels and streaming services is due to copyright laws and the contracts signed with the creators. Whether or not countries governments are friends has nothing to do with intellectual property rights and regulations.
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I am not exactly sure what you are talking about either, I haven’t mentioned not paying, simply not paying to rent a box when for a lot less PA you can buy your own rather than paying a monthly subscription to rent a box.