As many already know, John Malone has been a cable legend since he first ran Tele-Communications Inc. back in the early 1970s.

Besides being there at the founding of many channels, the Liberty Media (LCAPA) chairman’s influence put most of them on the map and his forceful business skills willed cable into becoming a key consumer medium for entertainment and news.

Malone talked about that experience onstage at the seventh D: All Thing Digital conference and how it mirrors what is going on now as more content is being distributed on the Internet. And, more importantly, he discussed how it might or might not be paid for.

You should listen, because Malone is a genuine media pioneer who could teach Web players a thing or two.

Here’s the full D7 video of the session: