They are the gatekeeper in the markets tied to their devices. However, there are many other competing devices and content providers. They are not the universal arbiter of all content streaming into your life.
If Apple doesn't carry a movie you want to watch due to whatever policies, you can buy a different phone from a different company or stream it on NetFlix or whatever. On the other hand, if your ISP won't let you download a movie over your connection because of their policies and they are the only ones who provide service in your area, that is a much larger problem. That is the distinction I was trying to make and the one I think this article overlooks.