Public broadcasting in other industrial democracies is supported, typically, by an independent source of revenue and enjoys considerably higher levels of funding, more money for production, a broader schedule of programs, and bigger audiences. In contrast, public broadcasting in the U.S. must depend on a broad mix of Congressional and legislative appropriations, subscriber donations, and corporate and foundation underwriting. This fragmented funding structure brings with it pervasive pressures to restrict grant support and air time to programs that will appeal to those who control the purse strings. Even Oscar-winning documentaries have been subject to such restraints. Consequently, public broadcasting in America has learned to play it safe and cheap.
Theater consists typically of British imports and commercial reruns.
There is a paucity of public affairs programming. PBS's one nightly news program duplicates the same reliance on government and corporate voices as network commercial programming. Local news and public affairs programs are few and far between. There are nightly and weekly programs for those interested in big business and Wall Street investing, but no regular programs for those interested in issues related to the workplace, consumer affairs, environmental protection, or human rights. In recent years, the very non-commercial basis of the service has been under assault.