Today, with dozens of specialized cable networks available to anyone with access to a satellite dish or cable TV (well over 80% of the population), it's harder to say what specialized need that PBS/NPR is meeting that isn't being met by the free market.
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As one of the 20% who only gets the 3 major networks, Fox, UPN and WB plus UHF and VHF PBS stations, I'd say that easily 80% of what we watch outside of football season is on the 2 PBS channels. That's why we contribute bucks. I'll admit that if we had Travel channel, Discovery channel and such, the PBS watching would be way down. Even as a PBS supporter, I hafta say that I cannot stand the Bill Moyers, Charlie Rich and local Boston PBS liberal intelligensia. They're big in the People's Republic of Cambridge though.

Now this time, AT&T Broadband really, really, REALLY promises that they're bringing broadband cable to our metrowest Boston suburb this summah. Really.

-philw (blocked by neighbors trees from DBS)