The State has press releases, and the ability to command attention for speeches simply due to their monopoly on force. That's sufficient; there doesn't need to be a full time propaganda wing for the people to hear the perspective of the state
Ask yourself - if the BBC was such a state machine - why do members of the government complain about it's output so much?
It's there to lift the nation culturally, to create a British identity and social cohesion - to inform, educate, and entertain. To be a positive inspirational force.
It's not a single entity, with a single voice - but a sum of it's employees.
> For every Murdoch there's a dozen other channels,
I'm not sure quantity is the best metric here....
Do not, in the former, you risk getting caged? Whereas if it is a private company, you do not risk your freedom?
I do not like the idea of being thrown into jail for not paying for a service I do not use. I do not use Netflix, and that is fine, it has no dire consequences. What are the consequences of not paying for BBC? Genuinely curious, because I am not sure.