Arkansas becomes first state to cut ties with PBS, saying $2.5 million membership dues 'not feasible' | Fortune

"The eight-member Arkansas Educational Television Commission, made up entirely of appointees of the governor, announced in a news release Thursday that it planned to disaffiliate from PBS effective July 1, citing annual membership dues of about $2.5 million it described as "not feasible." The release also cited the unexpected loss of about that same amount of federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was targeted for closure earlier this year and defunded by Congress."

"PBS Arkansas is rebranding itself as Arkansas TV and will provide more local content, the agency's Executive Director and CEO Carlton Wing said in a statement. Wing, a former Republican state representative, took the helm of the agency in September. "Public television in Arkansas is not going away," Wing said. "In fact, we invite you to join our vision for an increased focus on local programming, continuing to safeguard Arkansans in times of emergency and supporting our K-12 educators and students.""

"PBS confirmed in an email Thursday that Arkansas is the first state to definitively sever ties with the broadcaster. Alabama considered similar action last month, but opted to continue paying its contract with PBS after public backlash from viewers and donors. "The commission's decision to drop PBS membership is a blow to Arkansans who will lose free, over the air access to quality PBS programming they know and love," a PBS spokesperson wrote in an email to The Associated Press."

The Arkansas Educational Television Commission voted to disaffiliate from PBS effective July 1, citing annual membership dues of about $2.5 million as "not feasible" and the unexpected loss of roughly the same amount in federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The eight-member commission is composed entirely of gubernatorial appointees. PBS Arkansas will rebrand as Arkansas TV and plans to increase local programming while maintaining emergency broadcasting and K-12 support. PBS warned that dropping membership will remove free over-the-air access to national PBS programs for Arkansans. Alabama considered but did not sever ties after public backlash.

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