{"id":2520572,"date":"2025-12-12T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arkansas-becomes-first-state-to-drop-partnership-with-pbs\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T12:30:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T17:30:59","slug":"arkansas-becomes-first-state-to-drop-partnership-with-pbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arkansas-becomes-first-state-to-drop-partnership-with-pbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Arkansas becomes first state to drop partnership with PBS"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Farkansas-becomes-first-state-to-drop-partnership-with-pbs%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2520572&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Arkansas has become the first state to end its partnership with PBS after the Arkansas Educational Television Commission voted to disaffiliate due to the high cost of annual membership dues, which are about $2.5 million. This decision was influenced by the loss of federal funding to public broadcasters, following Congress&#8217;s defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under a bill signed by President Donald trump. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, created in 1967, used to provide federal funds to PBS and NPR but has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >faced notable budget cuts<\/a>. Arkansas PBS will now rebrand as Arkansas TV, shifting its focus to local programming, emergency services, and educational support. The change will take effect July 1, 2026. Simultaneously occurring, Alabama considered a similar move but ultimately decided to maintain its PBS affiliation after public opposition.The defunding and criticism of PBS also reflect ongoing political debates, including complaints about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senators-issue-an-ultimatum-to-npr-after-ethical-failure-at-the-highest-levels\/\" title=\"Senators Demand Action from NPR Over Ethical Breach\">perceived <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/snopes-posts-bogus-pro-aoc-fact-check-ends-up-exposing-its-left-wing-bias\/\" title=\"Snopes Posts Bogus Pro-AOC \u2018Fact Check,\u2019 ...s Up Exposing Its Left-Wing Bias\">left-wing bias<\/a><\/a> in PBS content.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Arkansas becomes first state to drop partnership with PBS after funding cut<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2442953\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/arkansas\/\">Arkansas<\/a> has become the first state to cut ties with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pbs\/\">PBS<\/a> after a state commission voted to end the public television partnership on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The Arkansas Educational Television Commission said it plans to disaffiliate from the public broadcaster because its annual membership dues were simply &ldquo;not feasible.&rdquo; The dues cost around $2.5 million per year. The commission also pointed to the loss of federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3475875\/npr-pbs-historic-defunding-by-congress\/\">defunded by Congress<\/a> over the summer.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/3914476\/america-marc-benioff-believes-in\/\">The America Marc Benioff believes in<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/magazine\/3913399\/nvidia-sellout-china-threatens-us-national-security\/\">Nvidia sellout to China threatens US national security<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/technology\/3915198\/openai-launches-new-chatgpt-model-focused-providing-professional-assistance\/\">OpenAI launches new ChatGPT model focused on providing &#8216;professional&#8217; assistance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The corporation&rsquo;s loss in federal funding was caused by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> in July. The law clawed back $1.1 billion allocated for public broadcasting through fiscal 2027, forcing the corporation to wind down operations by the end of September.<\/p>\n<p>Created by Congress in 1967, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting once provided federal funding to PBS and NPR. The Trump administration took aim at both nonprofit media outlets earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>Arkansas PBS is now rebranding itself as Arkansas TV, the television network&rsquo;s leader announced.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Public television in Arkansas is not going away,&rdquo; Executive Director and CEO Carlton Wing said. &ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A PBS spokesperson called the state&rsquo;s decision a &ldquo;blow to Arkansans.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Arkansas commission&rsquo;s move to distance the state from PBS will take effect July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3833031\/npr-pbs-federal-funding-halted-democrats-shutdown-demands\/\">NPR AND PBS FEDERAL FUNDING HALTED AS GOP IGNORES DEMOCRATS&rsquo; SHUTDOWN DEMANDS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alabama\/\">Alabama<\/a> similarly considered stepping away from its partnership with PBS last month, but the state commission that oversees public television voted to continue paying for its PBS contract. Before the vote, Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kay-ivey\/\">Kay Ivey<\/a> (R-AL) urged the body to delay any decision on the matter until it studied the opinions of residents in the state. The possibility of Alabama&rsquo;s disaffiliation with PBS was met with widespread backlash from Alabama viewers and donors.<\/p>\n<p>Trump previously accused PBS of producing content with a left-wing bias and acted to rescind federal funding from its principal funder. Ken Burns&rsquo;s latest PBS documentary, <em>The American Revolution<\/em>, has been <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/restoring-america\/patriotism-unity\/3897100\/ken-burns-revolts-against-the-american-revolution\/\">criticized by conservatives<\/a> for the very reason that Trump raised.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arkansas first state to end PBS partnership over funding cuts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2520573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25345804620667.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7411,5152,9342,19567,42396],"class_list":["post-2520572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-arkansas","tag-education","tag-partnership","tag-pbs","tag-state-policy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25345804620667.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520572","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2520572"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520572\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2520576,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520572\/revisions\/2520576"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2520573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2520572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2520572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2520572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}