Posted on 12/12/2025 3:21:11 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Arkansas PBS on Thursday severed ties with the PBS network, a move that will take shows like “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” and “Antiques Roadshow” off the air for tens of thousands of viewers.
The decision makes Arkansas PBS the first statewide public TV system to break from PBS since Congress voted this summer to strip $500 million in annual funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which backs TV and radio stations across the United States.
The loss of federal funding has put enormous pressure on the public media system, sending stations scrambling for ways to fill big budget gaps.
The Arkansas Educational Television Commission, which oversees public television in the state, voted 6 to 2 to disaffiliate with PBS, citing concerns about the cost of membership since the recent loss of federal funding. Arkansas PBS is also changing its name to Arkansas TV.
Carlton Wing, the executive director and chief executive of Arkansas TV, said in an interview that Arkansas PBS had been set to lose $2.2 million to $2.5 million every year if it didn’t cut ties with PBS. He said that PBS fees for this year were more than $2 million.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
'We are open for any alternatives — they just have to be fiscally responsible for us,' he said."
“He said that PBS fees for this year were more than $2 million.”
WOW! What a racket at Taxpayer Expense! *SPIT*
Thank you, Mr. Wing! Thank you, President Trump!
P.S. I thought everything from Mother Government was FREE? *SMIRK*
Good. Thanks for posting.
Tens of thousands of viewers? In a state with a population of 3 million people?
Arkansas is a very poor state. Not sure that many even HAVE a TV.
How do you think the ‘Clinton Cabal’ was able to infiltrate and get away with all that they did there? ;)
If you support nonprofit broadcasting, you can donate on your own. I support several classical music radio stations that are not NPR affiliated. Viewer and listener support should be the model. The federal money was supposed to be “seed” money to help Mr. Rogers stay on the air in 1970 with his shoestring budget (sneakers!) in Pittsburgh. It was never meant to become a forever federal line item.
It’s about time. Think of all the kids in rehab because they got Hooked on Phonics.
“It was never meant to become a forever federal line item.”
Obviously you’ve been around here long enough to know. :)
ANYTHING Mother Government ‘starts’ never has an ‘end date’ in mind. It just grows and grows and consumes more and more Taxpayer Dollars into Infinity.
She’s VERY GOOD at getting the Proletariat hooked on whatever ‘freebie’ is offered at any time.
If ANY of these PBS shows are worth their salt, someone will pick them up. It happens in commercial TV every day.
AND how will those “tens of thousands” possibly survive without “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”?
“ANYTHING Mother Government ‘starts’ never has an ‘end date’ in mind.”
well, EXCEPT for TAX CUTS that have an end date ...
Embarrassing assumption. Our great governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, announced for the second year in a row, that Arkansas leads all states in inbound migration. It’s mainly Texans I’m noticing. Apparently, the hardcore conservatives of Texas are now choosing Arkansas. Also from my experience, it’s the reddest of the red states.
Disparage it at your own folly.
Glad to hear it! I knew she’d do well for your state.
I was referring to the Clinton Years when Slick was running the show...
We don’t want to Californicate it! Haha
I remember public television before PBS, which was established in 1969. In those days, it was “National Educational Television”, an dthe flagship was WNET 13 in Newark, NJ (which served NYC, more than its NYC cousin Channel 31).
Similarly, WEDH-24 in Hartford, CT (Education Hartford), WEDW-49 in Bridgeport (Education West CT), WEDY-71 (Education Yale/New Haven, and Norwich WEDN-53 (Education Norwich, CT) all were EDUCATIONAL television, NOT Public Television upon founding.
If only someone else would have some cartoons for kids on TV.
Same in OK with OETA - Oklahoma Educational Television Authority. PBS affiliate but not in the name.
Whoa! Oklahoma is the reddest. We haven’t had a single county go for Obama or Hillary Clinton or Kamala
Let’s call it a 3-way tie for first! 🥳
There is little so permanent as a “temporary” government program.
Well said! :)
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