Arkansas PBS to drop PBS, rebrand as Arkansas TV

Arkansas PBS, the statewide network operated by the Arkansas Educational Television Commission, announced Thursday that it will drop PBS programming and change its name to Arkansas TV.

The current PBS contract ends June 30, 2026, and local viewers will start seeing the branding change across platforms over the next several months. Starting next summer, the organization plans to deliver “several new local shows, as well as favorites from the last 60 years,” according to a news release.

For the time being, the broadcast lineup will change little, according to the release. Arkansas TV will be the third public television station or network to formally cut ties with PBS, following WEIU-TV in Charleston, Ill., and WSRE in Pensacola, Fla.

The decision follows the organization’s loss of approximately $2.5 million to its annual budget due to the rescission of federal funding by Congress. In the release, Arkansas TV said continuing to pay its annual PBS membership dues of nearly $2.5 million was “simply not feasible for the network or our Foundation.”

The eight-member AETC voted 6-2 at a meeting Thursday not to renew the PBS contract. Arkansas’ governor appoints AETC members to eight-year terms.

The discussion was led by new Arkansas TV CEO Carlton Wing, who was appointed to the role in September and replaced Courtney Pledger, who resigned in May. Wing said the network has been able to survive fiscal year 2026 “by dipping into reserves and by some unprecedented fundraising from our foundation. That’s not a long-term business strategy.”

Wing is a former Republican state representative and is also co-founder of the Wing Media Group, which produces lifestyle content about outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting. He said Arkansas TV plans to produce about 70% of its programs locally, with the remaining 30% coming from American Public Television and the National Educational Telecommunications Association.

“I have already had multiple meetings with people who have never even thought about doing business with public television before that are now very interested with an Arkansas-centric focus, because most of our programming has not been Arkansas,” Wing said. “In fact, 5.5% of our programming is locally-produced.”

Before the vote, commission member Annette Herrington said the foundation could cover PBS dues for at least another year. “I think this decision doesn’t have to be made today,” she said.

“We come back a year later and end up potentially making the same decision, however, with far less of a financial cushion to make that decision,” replied Wing, who said waiting could drain the foundation’s coffers.

Herrington and commission member Cynthia Nance voted no to cutting PBS.

Arkansas PBS signed on in 1966 and became a PBS station in 1970. In its release, the network said PBS content will continue to be accessible in “a number of ways.”

In an FAQ on its website, Arkansas TV directs viewers seeking to continue their PBS Passport member benefits to WKNO-TV in Memphis, Tenn.; Ozarks Public Television in Springfield, Mo.; Mississippi Public Broadcasting; Louisiana Public Broadcasting; and the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority.

Arkansas TV will also drop PBS Kids programming and the Create and World channels. The network will have “award-winning children’s programming that’s been created locally over the last several years, and we’re planning even more for the future,” it says on its website.

“We’ve got a great lineup coming in 2026 with two children’s series, two food-related series, two history series, and even more that are in the initial phases of development and fundraising,” it adds.

During the meeting, Arkansas TV CFO James Downs said he estimates an annual cost of $969,000 for programming going forward, comprising $500,000 for new local productions and $469,000 for acquisitions.

The FAQ page says the Arkansas PBS Foundation will be renamed and that there are no plans to close it. The network says it is hoping that current donors and members will continue to support it.

The change was met with criticism online. In one Facebook post, multiple viewers said they would transfer their monthly donations to other PBS stations to maintain access to their favorite programs. “I cannot believe that the Arkansas educational TV organization would vote to walk away from DECADES of quality programming!” viewer Ken Howard wrote. “My family will be transferring our donations and our support to PBS.org. Very shortsighted decision!”

At least two viewers called the move a “bait and switch,” pointing out that the state network had asked for donations in the months following the rescission yet dropped PBS.

“I bet this comment section isn’t going the way you wanted it to,” wrote viewer Amy Bradley-Hole.