I remember how twenty years ago, the argument was made that the high quality of educational programming on the Discovery and History Channels made PBS redundant

I remember how twenty years ago, the argument was made that the high quality of educational programming on the Discovery and History Channels made PBS redundant. I didn't agree even then, but at the time there really were some pretty good stuff on those commercial channels. But it turns out that shows about science and history don't make as much money as nonsense about ancient aliens and so the commercial stations stopped being that educational. It really shows how the commercial model doesn't really work for education.