They would let the United Way handle the money, despite its ugly track record. They're happy to let the Red Cross respond to disasters, even as it paid Elizabeth Dole a huge salary as a front person. They would love to let foundations do it. The assumption is that business management is better management. Even now the idea of setting aside a public TV channel for educational programs is corrupted.
Public television is still broke.
Run like a business, it has to beg constantly for support. The story of forcing human needs into the marketplace is often a tragedy. Government functions turned over to business or into business models don't work that well. From managed healthcare to California electric power, the examples are manifold. Luckily, there is an example in the public sector to counter the antigovernment forces.