Arkansas will become first state to end PBS affiliation

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

12/13/25 1:50 PM ET


CONWAY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Arkansas’ statewide public television network will end its affiliation with PBS starting in July 2026, the Arkansas Educational Television Commission announced this week. The station, formerly known as Arkansas PBS, will also rebrand as Arkansas TV.

The commission cited a $2.5 million reduction in annual federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the cost of PBS membership fees as factors in its decision. A news release announcing the move called the dues “simply not feasible.”

Programming is expected to remain largely unchanged through June 30, 2026. After that date, the network plans to introduce locally produced programming, including children’s, food and history series currently in development, as well as “favorites from the last 60 years.” “Public television in Arkansas is not going away,” Executive Director and CEO Carlton Wing said in the release.

“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. … We are confident that we can secure ongoing and increased support from individual donors, foundation partners and corporate sponsors who see the value in investing in new local programming that serves our state.” PBS content will continue to be accessible to Arkansas residents through other platforms, Arkansas TV said.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5646794-arkansas-first-state-nixing-pbs/

[wcmagumba]

1. Arkansas along with Texas, Florida and other red states suck to live in...I live in one, KS...

[MuseRider]

5. I had not heard about this until now.

I live in Kansas too and I cannot even begin to think they would vote to be rid of it. It has been such a part of lives here. I know I am being silly, I know who they are but this just seems impossible.

I have been a bit out of things for a while so take this for what it is worth. Sad to see it is even being discussed.

[wcmagumba]

6. Hiya fellow Kansan, I'm not sure this is being publicly discussed in our state but no doubt behind the scenes...

My momma always told me, "Never trust a Republican"...they lie...

[MuseRider]

14. Good words to live by.

It has always been such a positive thing to have in like a million years. For what it is worth, not much for sure, I have not heard anything like this. For the love of God why? This is so over the top, there have to be some of them who see what this looks like and what it will do. They cannot all believe in stupidity and ignorance.

[ShazzieB]

37. I'm sure some of them have better sense.

But they are greatly outnumbered by all the stupid MAGAs down there. And their governor is one of the stupidest, imo.

[young_at_heart]

29. I was almost born there, but my parents moved

three weeks before I was born....to California. I am really happy to have nothing to do with that state! All the family also eventually moved to California!

[walkingman]

30. Just renewed by Passport subscription, I hope Austin KLRU can continue to serve the community.

It really is great programming.

[Prairie Gates]

2. ...

[DBoon]

3. How did DeSantis/Abbott let them get away with being first?

[Martin68]

4. Fuck Arkansas. Virginia is not much better because we stopped state funding quite a while ago.

https://current.org/state-funding-guide/?wallit_nosession=1

[flashman13]

7. Arkansas, leading the way to bigger and better stupid.

[Bengus81]

20. No doubt losing their ACA and PBS. Thank a Republican first chance you get idiots.....

[flashman13]

24. Roger FAFO!

[SergeStorms]

34. Raise them dumb from the start.....

of their young lives and they'll pay stupid dividends forever. The Red State's motto.

[flashman13]

35. Give 'em some of that good ole time religion to distract them. OK is a prime example.

OK is extremely religious with the worst school ratings in the country. Not all that long ago, under Democratic leadership, their schools were in the top 20.

[Coldwater]

8. Living here in Massachusetts

I grew up watching PBS on WGBH TV in Boston and feasted on shows like ZOOM, Mister Rogers' Neighbor, The Joy of Painting, The French Chef, Crockett's Victory Garden, This Old House, NOVA, Frontline, The Woodwright’s Shop, Nature, Motor Week, Cosmos, The New Yankee Workshop,

I feel sorry for a whole generation of kids who will miss out due to a lack of funding

[BumRushDaShow]

9. I grew up here in Philly with WHYY (originator of "Fresh Air with Terry Gross" )

and hearing about WGBH for like half the other programming.

[GiqueCee]

10. And yet...

... there's unlimited funding for the malicious thugs of I.C.E., $20 billion for Argentina's cratering economy, MORE tax cuts for greedy fucking billionaires who don't need it, or deserve it, $300 million for a tacky replica of a Russian ballroom, and the list goes on...
The irredeemably corrupt Sinister Six poisoning the SCOTUS will give this evil sonofabitch carte blanche to do anything he wants to whoever displeases him, and Republicans are just fine with it, because they want to rule over the ashes of whatever's left, which won't be much if we don't stop them. Like, NOW.
These people have forfeited any consideration of mercy or forgiveness, and deserve whatever Hell has in store for them.

[Bengus81]

21. My gawd just look at that listing of left wing commie programming!

No wonder it has to go...........

[hotdamn00]

25. We're gonna Zooma Zooma Zoom!

I was fluent in ubby-dubby at eight years old

[johnnyplankton]

11. As if the population of Arkansas need to get any stupider

[moniss]

13. Excellent point and I can just

imagine the "flavor" of their local programming they will produce.

[llmart]

22. The "flavor" will be akin to Duck Dynasty and Honey Boo Boo.

[travelingthrulife]

36. Yes, and shows glorifying teen pregnancies.

TLC used to be a good channel too.

[llmart]

38. I didn't know about that one.

But I gave up on cable 15 years ago.

[GiqueCee]

33. Huckabee Hell...

... where a couple parting company wonder, "If we gits a dee-vorce, are we still brother an' sister?"

As the wise old sage, Ron White, observed, "Ya can't fix stupid!"

[bmichaelh]

12. Some quotations on stupidity

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
-- Martin Luther King Jr

Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil...Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer

[Bohunk68]

15. Listening to WAMC of Albany right now

and thankful to have such a great radio station. They did right well on the last fund-raiser and the entire network came up with the funding in 2 days and a little bit. $1.5M. And then just had another funder and it went quickly. I had also turned off the Direct Tv a few months ago. So, DU and WAMC are my main information feeders.

[BidenRocks]

16. Arkansas really needs PBS

Why?
Because stupid gave us Chump!

[mdbl]

17. I don't think they watched it. They were all tuned into Fux Noooze.

[J_William_Ryan]

18. Arkansas 'Educational' Television Commission

The right’s war on education continues.

[Bengus81]

19. Why not let people decide in Arkansas? From the fucks that claim "limited guberment"

My ass. Huckafuck want to be first to please her fuhrer?

[NotHardly]

23. Trump/Repugs love the uneducated...remember.

[Nictuku]

26. Idiots

[chouchou]

27. Late2024, Arkansas is ranked 46th overall among the 50 states

This ranking reflects a decline from previous years.
Yeah, I'd move there ..for 7 million.....Maybe. yuck.

[Historic NY]

28. Squirrel cooking by the Huckafuck kids.

[jfz9580m]

31. Lame.nt

[dedl67]

32. The state seems to be in a vicious cycle

The less desirable the state becomes to live in, the more talented and ambitious people pack up and leave. The more talented and ambitious people pack up and leave, the less desirable the state becomes to live in. That's been happening in a lot of places across the US for a long time.

[Initech]

39. Republican propaganda is killing this country.