Alabama Public Television discusses possible split from PBS after funding loss

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Alabama Public Television Executive Director Wayne Reid confirmed to CBS 42 that the possibility of severing ties with PBS was discussed at an Alabama Educational Television Commission meeting Tuesday.

Reid said no financial decision was made. A special meeting was scheduled to discuss the issue Nov. 18. Reid said the commission is looking at what other alternative programming is available and what the financial ramifications of such a move would be.

Reid said at least 80% of its programming comes from PBS, including “Sesame Street.” The discussion follows the recent loss of over $2.8 million in grant funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting after the Trump administration rescinded federal funding from the CPB.

“Following the loss of federal funding, the Alabama Educational Television Commission, the governing body of APT, is debating whether to continue acquiring PBS programming,” a statement from APT reads. “They would certainly be interested in hearing from APT viewers. Please share your thoughts by emailing mailto:comment@aptv.org.”

Johnny Curry is an APT Foundation board member who was at the public meeting. He confirmed the topic was not on the agenda for the meeting.

Curry said commissioner Les Barnett, of Mobile, who attended the meeting via Zoom, is the one who brought up the topic of severing the relationship between APT and PBS. Around 90% of all of APT programming comes from PBS, according to Curry, including children’s programming “Sesame Street,” “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”

Curry said APT’s mission is to provide educational services to school children. He said he is open to changing APT’s relationship with PBS.

Curry said it pays a fee to carry PBS programming. Curry would like to see APT to have the option of picking and choosing what programming it purchases.

He said the current contract with PBS expires June 30. If APT and PBS were to part ways, the educational network would be the first in the country to do so.