Except people don't do Comedy Central specials for the money, they do it to get exposure. Heralding C.K's success is like how people praised Radiohead for releasing their album independently. He already has a rabid and loyal fan base, but that's after working the comedy scene, writing for big shows, having stand-up specials on HBO. This article makes it seem like anybody can generate their own material, promote it and eventually have their own TV show, but there's a lot more to it than that.
Someone has to be first. If this goes well for Louis maybe that will make other comedians do the same. The power balance shifts. There's no reason why he can't sell material from other comedians too.
What a sweet deal for Comedy Central! They've convinced everybody that somehow there's no money to pay them, they'll just have to do it for free. That sounds suspiciously convenient.
