Alabama Public Television eliminates jobs of 11 workers
Alabama Public Television is cutting 11 staff positions in its production, education, events and administration departments.
The workforce reduction, announced Thursday, affects about 13% of staff. All but one of the affected employees works full-time, and no vacant positions were eliminated. Prior to the job cuts, the network employed 85 staff.
Two local productions, Monograph, a digital series on arts and creativity, and Subcarrier, a live performance series that ran for eight seasons, will be canceled. Wayne Reid, executive director of the state network, told Current that “a few educational programs in the field will be cut or dialed back.”
The downsizing responds to the rescission of CPB’s federal funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The corporation is winding down operations to minimum staffing Sept. 30. Alabama Public Television’s workforce reductions take effect the same day.
In FY24, Alabama Public Television received more than $2.5 million in federal funding through CPB, about 10% of its revenue budget of more than $24 million. Alabama Public Television was also set to receive $529,558 from the CPB-managed Next Generation Warning System program, though that grant was taken back by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a new funding pool it is overseeing.
“This is a very difficult day for Alabama Public Television,” said Reid in the news release Thursday. “The funding loss has forced us into a position we never wanted to face. I am deeply saddened that this situation has required us to eliminate valued positions. On behalf of APT, I want to sincerely thank our employees for their years of service, hard work, and dedication to our mission.”
Since July, more than 10 public media organizations have publicly announced layoffs tied to the rescission of CPB funding.
