Former Arkansas First Ladies join effort to keep PBS programs
by February 16, 2026 3:27 pm 2,026 views
The newly created Friends of Arkansas PBS will include a bipartisan approach in its effort to convince the Arkansas Educational Television Commission to reverse its December 2025 decision to cut ties with PBS effective July 1.
The new nonprofit announced Monday (Feb. 16) that it will be chaired by former Arkansas First Ladies Barbara Pryor and Gay White. Pryor was the wife of Gov. David Pryor, a Democrat, and White was the wife of Gov. Frank White, a Republican.
“David was honored to be asked by President George W. Bush to serve on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s board,” Pryor said. “He would be devastated to know that PBS in Arkansas is in jeopardy. I ask everyone who has ever enjoyed PBS programming to join the Friends of Arkansas PBS and let the commissioners know that we disagree with their recent vote.”
“It was deeply disappointing to see that Arkansas is disaffiliating with Public Broadcasting Service,” White said in a statement. “I completely understand not being able to make ends meet. What I do not understand is in a state with the resources we have, both in money and bright minds, we are unable to solve this problem. We know the state has surplus funds that could be used to supplement the loss of national funding. And I, as a financial supporter of PBS, am more than willing to increase my pledge. I know I’m not alone. Surely we can figure this out.”
The commission voted Dec. 11 to end its long relationship with PBS and rebrand as Arkansas TV. The move follows an end to federal funding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helped support educational television programs for PBS stations around the country.
Arkansas TV Executive Director and CEO Carlton Wing has said the loss of federal funding resulted in a $2.5 million loss in the AETN budget. He said during a recent address that he did not believe he would obtain more funding from the Legislature. Without disaffiliating from PBS, Arkansas TV would run a $917,865 deficit in fiscal year 2028 and a a $3.77 million deficit by FY 2029.
According to a YouGov study in 2025, more than 70% of Arkansans said PBS provides excellent community value and 78% said PBS KIDS is the most trusted educational children’s media brand. Wing has said Arkansas TV lost 600-700 donors since it began making changes.
Friends of Arkansas PBS plan to hold a free event about their efforts at 5:30 p.m., Feb. 19, at the downtown Little Rock branch of the Central Arkansas Library System.