Sure, but PBS member stations also function as incubators, in addition to providing a platform. They provide (along with underwriting from 3rd party charitable institutions) artists/intellectuals/entertainers the upfront capital to produce their programming. YouTube isn't going to provide anyone with money upfront to make a show unless they already have a massive following. Mr. Rogers Neighborhood wouldn't exist if WQED hadn't taken a chance on a couple of 20 something's letting them produce Children's Corner in 1958.
It's certainly possible that's less necessary nowadays, given how cheap filming and creating video content is nowadays, but it's worth considering.
Youtube has incubated many multiples the number of creators than PBS member stations despite not providing upfront funding. Most creators don't start out from corporations or business loans.
Let’s compare MrBeast with Mr Rogers…
We got Ms Rachel from YouTube, who is genuinely fantastic.
exactly. would veritasium, 3brown1blue, action lab, nile blue/red, up and atom, simone, etc. even exist via the PBS funding model?
The "PBS spacetime" channel exists, so they're doing something right.
If it was properly funded? Quite possibly. If it had the same funding as Youtube's ad revenue then I think you'd have all those, but maybe a lot less of PewPewDie and Dude Perfect.
which channel is simone? the name is too generic, a search only turns up uninteresting stuff.
Pretty good chance they meant Simone Giertz, who is fantastic:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3KEoMzNz8eYnwBC34RaKCQ
She got her start by being "Shitty robot queen" on reddit, not youtube.