Totally agree with you, but if you've wondered how Jefferies recovered he made a nice little media career talking about it.
.. and all power to him. A very eloquent and remarkably non bitter individual.
On a technical point the BBC took a commercial route years ago which is a major form of income.
It has many channels abroad that show advertising (including the news) as well as subscription VOD services.
Their production arm (which has recently been made independent) also makes programmes for...