Photo: Andrea Tinker/Alabama Reflector.
A public tv fan holds up a sign during the Alabama Educational Television Commission’s meeting on Nov. 18, 2025, in Birmingham, Alabama. The AETC ultimately voted to maintain PBS programming through the end of the contract.
PBS is safe in Alabama. At least until June. And if viewers have anything to say about it, it won’t end there.
Andrea Tinker wrote at the Alabama Reflector in November, “The governing body of Alabama Public Television (APT) Tuesday voted to continue its contract with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), rejecting a proposal to end its agreement with the broadcaster.
“The commission voted 5-1 to continue the contract after a presentation from APT staff and in front of 50 people, many of whom spoke about the importance of public broadcasting in their lives. …
“Diana Isom, who attended the meeting, told the commission that PBS Kids programming had been invaluable for her son.
“ ‘PBS is the reason my son is at a kindergarten level at three years old,’ Isom told the commission. ‘My son goes to an autism clinic; all of those kids watch PBS.’ …
“Two commissioners at October’s meeting suggested dropping PBS programming, citing the [administration] slashing the budget for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) this summer and what one member of the commission characterized as ideological objections.
“But the proposal drew sharp criticism from around the state, including over 1,400 emails to APT. …
“ ‘I think it’s important to stand up for quality education, quality programs for our children, especially in economic times such as these, not everyone can afford cable,’ … Julie Reese, one of the protesters, said.
“In a letter sent Monday, Gov. Kay Ivey asked the commission to survey the public to see if disaffiliation with PBS had support, and then develop a plan to do so. Pete Conroy, a member of the AETC, passed a motion at the meeting to create a commission to study the issue, consisting of journalists and broadcasters. …
“APT Executive Director Wayne Reid said during the meeting if the station dropped programming it would be replaced by American Public Television, a non-profit syndicator that he said produces ‘complementary programming’ to PBS. But Reid told commissioners that if PBS programming stopped altogether, it could result in a drop in annual membership contributions of $2.4 to $2.7 million, hurting APT operations. …
“Reid said Tuesday the station received emails and phone calls and tags on social media expressing concerns about stopping PBS programs.
“ ‘I’ve been a fan of PBS since my children were little, and they’re now in their 50s. … Carol Binder, a Hoover resident who attended the meeting, said. ‘Now, I love everything on PBS. I have [PBS] Passport, and there’s hundreds and hundreds of programs, and it’s just not right for one, two or three people who don’t like the program to cut it off for everybody in the state.’ …
“Reese said she heard from other protesters that they wouldn’t continue to donate if programming was cut. ‘I just spoke to a gentleman down the corner. … He will not continue donating to APT if PBS folds, which is going to severely impact Alabama public television,’ she said.
“Following Reid’s presentation, Commissioner Bebe Williams made a motion to continue to pay the PBS contract and maintain programming which passed with only one commissioner, Les Barnett, voting no.
“Sens. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, and Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, also spoke to the commission. …
“ ‘You may not be able to travel around the world. I have the opportunity now, but I’ve already been there with public television,’ Coleman-Madison said. ‘And the good thing about it, when I do go, I know where they’re telling me the truth or they’re giving me a snow job. It is trust. We trust public television because we know that the information we get in particular on PBS is going to be true, is going to be factual.’ …
“ ‘I think today really was a huge victory for the state of Alabama, victory for PBS and APT, although it needs constant attention and this is the beginning of a campaign and not the end,’ Conroy said after the meeting.
“Reid said continuing the contract, which expires next June, gives APT a clear picture of what direction to go next. ‘I’m a business guy. … I don’t like to go back on contracts that we’ve signed.’ “
More at the Alabama Reflector, here. Where do you stand on public television?
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