It works in Japan for mainstream products.
Anime isn't mainstream. Anime is a niche product for a small group of dedicated fans. The mainstream method doesn't work for a niche product.
In a regular television series, the network buys the show to run so they can make money off of ads. In late night anime, the production committee buys a slot to run their show in so they can show off their product and hope people buy it. They might make some money off of ads if they are lucky, but its no where near what they need to even come close to breaking even.
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The problem is, unfortunately, is that the business won't change until the Japanese otakus stop throwing their income at BDs. Seriously how do they even afford it?
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That isn't the problem. That is what is keeping the anime industry alive. Niche products can't be sold at mainstream prices since they can't be sold in mainstream volumes. Since they are low volume, they have to be sold at high prices.
Also, they afford it by having jobs that pay decently, spending little money on anything else, and sometimes have near free living expenses since Asian parents tend not to kick their kids out as quickly as American parents do. Be thankful for them, otherwise, we wouldn't exist.