The benefit of deriving funding from subscriptions and sponsorship is that public broadcasting maintains a non commercial, independent status. The problem is that voluntary taxation and ads that do not lie are not the most efficient income generators. To supplement these resources PBS also puts on benefit concerts, subscribathons, auctions and other fund-raising events. One of the major aims of the international community radio movement is program diversity. PBS is a public broadcaster that offs a genuine alternative.
Commercial radio is a business whose aim is to attract as many listeners as possible.
The higher the commercial radio's rating in the listener polls, the higher the price they can charge for advertising. Since listener's don't distinguish between active and passive listening, a commercial radio station doesn't engage the listener, they only have to fulfil the commercial radio motto of 'don't touch that dial'. This results in 'safe' programming, determined by a committee of radio professionals and pitched towards the largest available market. The state broadcast institutions have their funds secured by taxes so they have a programming freedom not avail to commercial radio. PBS is a station which provides a clear alternative to both commercial and government radio programs.