Can Sesame Street merchandising and revenue make up for the loss of taxpayer subsidy of PBS?

[ColonelAngus]

Does Sesame Street Lose Money?


Sesame Street hasn’t always seen sunny days, however. In 1974 Sesame Street’s federal aid was slashed in half, leading the production company to cut 13 jobs. In 1995, the company laid off 47 staffers, and operated at a deficit. The recession was particularly hard on Sesame Street’s investment portfolio. Its assets shrunk by $36 million between summer 2008 and summer 2009, and in March it cut 67 of its 355 staff positions. Mitt Romney has vowed to make times tough for Sesame Street again, if he’s elected to the White House. While campaigning in Iowa, Romney signaled that he would stop federal subsidies for PBS. “We’re not going to kill Big Bird,” he said, “But Big Bird is going to have advertisements. Alright?”


Total US public television revenues are about $2 billion/year, About 20% of that funding of which comes from taxpayer subsidy.....so we are looking at roughly $400 million/year in taxpayer subsidy to PBS.

If PBS loses that $400 million/year from taxpayers money, they can make it up in private donations or cut costs.

 

[HenryBHough]

It's wrong to have government money funding competition with legitimate businesses.