Isn't the old series available on DVD, streaming and places I can't mention for much less than $144?
Young poor people can't afford a random capital expenditure like that.
6 bucks a month is tolerable, even survivable.
More so if they buckle down, a real go-getter could watch 88 episodes of Sliders in 2 weeks. Or more accurately, quit half way through because of how badly it sucks after the Professor and Wade leave.