the BBC is funded by tax payers, Spain, Italy, Russia, Sweden, France, all have state-run TV. They also have some "free" media, but it's not nearly as free as the US.
You have a choice. The media can be funded by tax payers, or it can be funded by sponsors - and don't kid yourself that sponsors have no control over the media they pay for. So, although the US doesn't have state sponsored TV, it is a long way from being free of control or influence.
Canada has a nice mix of government-funded and commercially-funded media. The CBC is the one everyone turns to when they want straight news and information - and they do carry a lot of controversial stuff. Far more than the commercially-funded stations.
almost all of Obama's cabinet are heavy investors in the media, mostly GE which owns NBC. Notice how NBC never criticizes Obama. Even SNL won't make fun of him, even good naturedly. The government already controls the media.
