Why should taxpayers foot the bill for PBS?

First, let me state that I am very pro-PBS, so please don’t jump all over me for asking this question.

Yesterday on FB, I posted a pro-PBS link about Kevin Clash, the Elmo puppeteer. I wrote something like “I saw a documentary about Clash and he is very devoted to Elmo and Sesame Street” or something similar. My Jelly friends who are also my FB friends can go see it. Anyway, one of my FB friends commented and this is what he said:

“I never understood for years why the taxpayers have to foot the bill to run a tv station like PBS. The biggest show Sesame Street is worth 400 million and brings in millions a year in sales, none go back to the taxpayers. Why can’t Sesame Street buy air time say on ABC or CBS like other shows. This is a great program for kids, but other kid shows have to pay for air time. I guess years back educational shows couldnot afford to buy time, but this is a 400 million dollar show. With cable tv there are several shows I think are better than Sesame Street for kids. Maybe time for a change.”

I am not too into politics and I don’t have a good defense for this. What do you suggest I say? The alternative is I don’t say anything, and let the chips fall where they may as far as others commenting.