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Arkansas Becoming 1st State To Sever Ties With PBS, Effective July 1 (apnews.com) 118

Posted by msmash from the how-about-that dept.
joshuark writes: Arkansas is becoming the first state to officially end its public television affiliation with PBS. The Arkansas Educational Television Commission, whose members are all appointed by the governor, voted to disaffiliate from PBS effective July 1, 2026, citing the $2.5 million annual membership dues as "not feasible." The decision was also driven by the loss of a similar amount in federal funding after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) was 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."

"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 demise of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, is a direct result of President Donald Trump's targeting of public media, which he has repeatedly said is spreading political and cultural views antithetical to those the United States should be espousing. Trump denied taking a big should on television viewers.
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Arkansas Becoming 1st State To Sever Ties With PBS, Effective July 1 More

Arkansas Becoming 1st State To Sever Ties With PBS, Effective July 1

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  • Sorry Big Bird (Score:4, Insightful)

    by jacks smirking reven ( 909048 ) on Friday December 12, 2025 @05:03PM (#65854403)

    Turns out you were a woke DEI hire all along.

    Also let's not beat around the bush, when Trump says anithetical to the United States he means himself. Antithetical to him. Not allowed!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by shanen ( 462549 )

      Congrats on provoking so much vacuous ire?

      Not disagreeing with you on the substance, but seems increasingly pointless to me to worry about it. Not just out of my pay grade, but these days all of the crucial decisions are being made by selfish a-holes for stupid and shortsighted reasons. Can't even imagine why they are so concerned about dying with the most toys, but...

      • I certainly can't fault anyone for taking that outlook

        For me I take the Frank Constanza stance: "I got a lot of problems with you people and now you're gonna hear about it!"

    • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

      by DrMrLordX ( 559371 )

      Even HBO wants nothing to do with Big Bird anymore:

      https://www.npr.org/2024/12/17... [npr.org]

      • If you want to use David Zaslav as the arbiter of quality children's programming you go right ahead.

        • HBO went well out of their way to pull in Sesame Street/Sesame Workshop and take their programming off PBS, leaving PBS with rerun scraps. Several years later, that plan is dead and Sesame Workshop is out on the streets.

          Take shots at whomever you please. The results are the same.

          • It was more a shot at you for your suggestion of "Well it doesn't turn a profit so, fuck them kids". My point is some things are more important than that. Perish the thought I know.

            https://www.indiewire.com/news... [indiewire.com]

            Even if the practical effects of this agreement aren’t that dramatic, on a philosophical level, this is a very big deal. At a time when both Democratic and Republican candidates are railing against the rising tide of inequality in America, one of our nation’s great equalizers —

  • What is this supposed to mean? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by leonbev ( 111395 ) on Friday December 12, 2025 @05:08PM (#65854411) Journal

    At the tail end of the summary:

    "Trump denied taking a big should on television viewers."

    What in the What now?

  • Dumbing down (Score:4, Interesting)

    by ArchieBunker ( 132337 ) on Friday December 12, 2025 @05:09PM (#65854415)

    $2.5 million doesn't even register on the state budget. PBS is incredible value for the money. I watched PBS frequently as a child and not just for the childrens shows. I learned to cook with Julia Child and Yan Can Cook. I learned home improvement from watching Bob Vila. I learned carpentry from Norm and his massive shop and also how it was done by hand with the Woodrights Shop. Not to mention all the science and documentary shows. But I guess all that stuff is woke and gay now for not kissing a certain orange individuals ring.

    • Re:Dumbing down (Score:5, Informative)

      by ArchieBunker ( 132337 ) on Friday December 12, 2025 @05:14PM (#65854435)

      MAGA with mod points are already butthurt. The Arkansas budget is $ 6.49 billion. https://arkansasadvocate.com/2... [arkansasadvocate.com]

      We're looking at what, 0.04% of the budget for PBS?

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by hey! ( 33014 )

        PBS is primarily (85%) privately funded. It will continue to produce shows like Masterpiece, Nova, Frontline, and Sesame Street and people in places like Boston or Philadelphia will continue to benefit from them.

        What public funding does is give viewers in poorer, more rural areas access to the same information that wealthy cities enjoy. It pays for access for people who don't have it.

        By opting out, Arkansas public broadcasting saves 2.5 million dollars in dues, sure. But it loses access to about $300 mill

    • Well... maybe in Arkansas. It's not the most wealthy of states, after all. It's not a big surprise to me they're the first to fold. They would have been one of my top three guesses.

    • Re:Dumbing down (Score:5, Interesting)

      by leonbev ( 111395 ) on Friday December 12, 2025 @05:15PM (#65854439) Journal

      Most of those shows that you mentioned were popular in the 1990's. You forgot to mention The Computer Chronicles, which probably helped me get interested in technology back then.

      I'd imagine that conservatives probably think that PBS lost it's way in the 2010-2020's and became the "social justice network" instead. It really seemed to put a lot of it's focus on systemic racism around that time, and made some powerful enemies in the process.

      • Re:Dumbing down (Score:5, Interesting)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 ) on Friday December 12, 2025 @08:34PM (#65854849) Homepage Journal

        We had a similar thing in the UK with the BBC. Conservatives decided that it wasn't helping them win, so destroyed it. The formerly excellent news service, that held politicians to account and kept the other news services at least a little bit honest, was gutted.

        The country is far worse off for it, in ways that cannot easily, if ever, be undone.

        Trump and his ilk are doing the same thing in the US.

      • Stewart Cheifet and Gary Kildall FTW.

    • Re:Dumbing down (Score:5, Insightful)

      by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 ) on Friday December 12, 2025 @05:37PM (#65854503)

      Sounds like some good learnin', but Republicans, "Conservatives" and MAGA don't really want a well-rounded, well-educated electorate who can think for themselves, especially if it would disadvantage those in charge.

      • Republicans are also know-it-alls who claim they're "smarter" than scientists and know "what's best" for everyone with zero evidence and zero experience.

        • Republicans are also know-it-alls who claim they're "smarter" than scientists and know "what's best" for everyone with zero evidence and zero experience.

          Our current President and his followers especially... Usually the smarter (more educated) someone is the more they realize how much they don't know. Sadly, the opposite is also often true. The dumber (less educated) often they know more than they do. See: Dunning–Kruger effect [wikipedia.org]

          Trump thinks he knows everything and is the best at everything, which makes me believe this story about one of his former Wharton professors, as reported here [dailykos.com]:

          “Donald Trump was the dumbest goddam student I ever had.” Dr. Kelley told me this after Trump had become a celebrity but long before he was considered a political figure. Dr. Kelley often referred to Trump’s arrogance when he told of this — that Trump came to Wharton thinking he already knew everything.

    • Re: Dumbing down (Score:4, Funny)

      by Frank Burly ( 4247955 ) on Friday December 12, 2025 @05:49PM (#65854533)
      The LA public television station also balked at the price of PBS affiliation a few years ago. So it could be that they will opt to produce their own programming, or buy shows directly from the producers/distributers and continue to broadcast educational programming. But it's Arkansas, so maybe it will be The Walmart Product Information Hour--brought to you by The Noah's Ark Experience.

    • How much do you want to bet the "local programming" ends up costing more than $2.5 million, and half of it disappears into some Maggat's crypto account?

    • I grew up on PBS too and still watch it (while I can). Watched all the shows you mentioned except Julia child never was a big fan of hers. But Yan was the man "I'm woking and talking." Still love that line! I watched "This old house" from the days of Bob Villa and still do. Killing off PBS is a huge mistake!! Did it go too far with some DEI/woke stuff, he'll yes but that can be dealt with just like with Bud Light. It doesn't mean you need to kill the whole thing.

    • And there is a story further down stating Americans are not leading when it comes to many critical research.

      Sure, remove alot of TV shows that talk about science and tech. And education.

      Don't complain if America becomes irrelavant when it comes to many STEM topics in the next few decades.

      Maybe someone should tell the government that without a strong STEM education, you will not a harder time making your new fancy weapons. Once China matches the tech level of whatever American weapons there are, it's game ov

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by GFS666 ( 6452674 )

      I'm sorry, but the PBS that you grew up with doesn't exist anymore. I wish it did. I honestly do. But PBS decided that it was just going to cater to the Liberal/Progressive wing and not ALL of the country. Every time I see Nature or Nova they have to sneak in "People/the country is bad to the environment". Every time they talk about the Government it always has to be bad. And they do not seem to have programs devoted to the 3/4 of the country that is Rural.

      Listen, I understand that it is hard to get program

    • There are perfectly viable commercial alternatives. I learned home improvement from Tim Taylor, and I've only died 42 times so far.

  • PragerU Funding Incoming (Score:5, Insightful)

    by goldspider ( 445116 ) on Friday December 12, 2025 @05:21PM (#65854463) Homepage

    Now that they've gotten rid of this woke DEI nonsense, they can spend 10x as much on some more wholesome and less-indoctrinating educational materials! /s

    • Prager is an orthodox Jew. He's probably not popular in Arkansas, either.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward
        I thought he was a complete prick. Guess I was wrong.
      • I've got family in Arkansas. They love Jews as long as they show proper deference to the Christian interpretation of Jewish texts.

    • I disagree the goals of the idiots pushing these changes, but local content is the part of public broadcasting that I find interesting. Keep in mind that a lot of the employees at public broadcasters, even in a red state, have the same values as public broadcasting employees in liberal states. It is quite possible that they will indeed have an increase in wholesome local content.

      The big thing they're losing is wholesome children's content. Local art, history, and cultural programs can be made on a budget, b

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Now that they've gotten rid of this woke DEI nonsense, they can spend 10x as much on some more wholesome and less-indoctrinating educational materials! /s

      I have some programming ideas...

      Barney and friends hunt Dino the last dinosaur while spewing young earth idiocy and massacring any teletubbies found along the way.

      A two part series I can't believe she's my cousin followed by I can't believe she's my sister with AI generated commentary in the voice of Jerry Springer.

      Trumpet a cartoon red hat wearing maggot tours every third world shithole on the planet provides insightful commentary about the culture and customs of the locals along the way.

  • From Arkansas says yes it is the land of opportunity, and at the first opportunity you get the fuck out of there.
  • I am sure Arkansas residents can still get access to PBS content via Apps on their digital platform of choice. This is actually an interesting move because it could be the start of another competitive option. Or it fails and they bring the content back.

    • There's nothing stopping the State of Arkansas from licensing individual programs from PBS and/or the associated production companies, either. They can pick and choose what they want, including older stuff that no longer airs.

    • I find youir more than a little amusing. Either your sarcasm game is very strong, or you actually believe competition has anything to do with this.

  • https://www.myarkansaspbs.org/... [myarkansaspbs.org]

    Arkansas PBS is excited to announce that former State Rep. Carlton Wing has been selected as the agency’s new executive director and chief executive officer. Wing brings more than three decades of leadership experience in broadcasting, media and public service to the state’s only public media network. The Arkansas PBS commission and staff are looking forward to his first day in the office, on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

    Maybe they should have been a little more nervous.

  • Filled with morons (Score:5, Informative)

    by Bahbus ( 1180627 ) on Friday December 12, 2025 @06:52PM (#65854691) Homepage

    Arkansas doesn't know the first thing about education. Nor does the child predator known as Carlton Wing - who has a degree in radio broadcasting. He knows nothing of politics, education, or running a business.

    Arkansas Ranked:
    33/50 for Pre-K - 12.
    35/50 for higher education
    47/50 for quality of education
    45/50 for public schools
    49/50 for rate of 4yr degrees earned
    41/50 for reading proficiency
    43/50 overall education

    • Wow, so they really score near the top in almost all educational aspects! Everybody who also sees this, quick, move to Arkansas!

  • Soo.... (Score:2, Informative)

    by argStyopa ( 232550 )

    Paid for by taxpayer dollars. Oh, and the public funding drives.
    (which of these is "the most important" depends on who's begging in front of whom) ...oh and $2.5 million per state? So a flat $125 mill annually?

    "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,"
    IT'S CLEARLY NOT FREE.

  • I grew up in Northern New Jersey, 20 miles (as the crow flies) from mid-town Manhattan. But in the 70s and 80s, that might as well have been on another planet. TV news, weather, and content was decidedly New York-centric. New Yorkers always poked fun at New Jersey. Ironically, when they couldn't afford to live there anymore, they all moved to New Jersey... and proceeded to ruin the place.

  • But how soon till California makes their own TV programming and this administration outlaws state published programming?

  • Not dumping PBS (Score:2, Informative)

    by gabrieltss ( 64078 )
    They backed off after public backlash. They will keep paying for PBS.

    https://apnews.com/article/ala... [apnews.com]
  • The teenage birthrate in Arkansas will triple. Babies will be given a "birth-steak" to cuddle with. Hep B will decimate the population. Front teeth will become (?) a thing of the past. Or, of the future. Sesame Street is replaced by “Sesame Exit,” where the only lesson is how to leave the state quietly before asking too many questions, but the puppets are immediately investigated for being "unelected felt officials".. Ken Burns releases a 36-hour documentary called Arkansas: Previously On PBS, c
  • Right wing politics doesn't work. It's a combination of trickle down and the divine right of Kings and if you have literally any knowledge you know those don't work.

    So the only solution is total media control. Like they do in Russia or China. Otherwise we all see the emperor has no cloths and do away with our ruling class.

    So right now in America 90% of media is owned by billionaires, but that's not enough. There's still truth and reality available. And that has to stop.
  • I don't mean Sesame Street, I mean those geared to a bit more mature audience: The Woodwright's Shop, New Yankee Workshop, The Magic of Oil Painting, Wild America, etc. I find I don't really watch anything on PBS anymore for decades now. Bleh now I feel old.

  • Have they not learned anything? I guess not because they complete screwed their educational system.

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