>PBS and NPR are funded by the government (just not 100%):
>
>http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=3968
>
>Still there are constantly lobbies to stop all government funding of any radio or tv network.

No wonder you couldn't find anything fresher from Cato - because that article was a part of an orchestrated campaign to stifle PBS/NPR (which were perceived as surprisingly left-wing for a public channel funded by a right-wing government). Then there was a little coup on NPR when they (whoever "they" may be) replaced one of the bosses, who immediately tried to do a few nasty changes, removed few things he didn't like, and lasted about two weeks. The uproar was too loud, I figure.

Statistically, the measurements show that NPR is predominantly conservative, but only in about 60:40 range, to differ from most of the other liberal media which were closer to 80:20, which brands them as the liberal medium funded by a right wing government, so they shouldn't be funded anymore, Q.E.D.

But one has to admire such a call for true independence of the reporters, specially when it comes from such an independent institution such as Cato.