New Jersey reduces funding for NJ PBS
The fiscal year 2026 New Jersey state budget signed by Gov. Phil Murphy Monday reduces funding for NJ PBS, the state network operated by the WNET Group in New York.
The budget appropriates $250,000 to NJ PBS, a decline from the $1 million authorized the previous year. According to NJ PBS’ fiscal year 2024 990 form, the most recent available, the station had a $56,000 deficit and brought in nearly $11.5 million in revenue. “We appreciate any allocation with which the state provides us and will be building out our FY26 plans accordingly,” NJ PBS said in a statement provided to Current.
NJ PBS has faced financial difficulties over the past 18 months. Last year, the WNET Group laid off employees and restructured staff, affecting 34 positions. Those positions included an unspecified number of employees at NJ Spotlight News, which was acquired by WNET in 2019.
In March, NJ PBS laid off an additional seven NJ Spotlight News employees.
New Jersey Network (NJN) was much more robust and engaging. Not to say NJ PBS has been doing horrible. We need coverage of the important issues in Trenton, but if you live in North Jersey, it’s all New York all the time, whereas TV viewers in South Jersey are seeing Philadelphia, all he while our state’s PBS affiliate if unrecognizable and not visually appealing.