Arkansas TV Commission rescinds PBS disaffiliation

The Arkansas TV Commission voted with zero audible “no” votes to rescind its December decision to disaffiliate from PBS and pay its dues for 2027 in its quarterly meeting Thursday (June 4). The move came after the Arkansas TV Foundation closed the gap on the funding required for paying the dues.

The commission authorized Executive Director Carlton Wing to accept contributions from the foundation to pay its 2027 dues.

The vote closed a saga, at least for the next fiscal year, that began when President Donald Trump and Congress cut federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The cut meant Arkansas lost $2.5 million in federal funding that represented 20% of Arkansas TV’s budget, and which the commission used to pay its PBS dues.

Arkansas on Dec. 11 became the first and only state to disaffiliate from PBS, but then it voted to pause that disaffiliation March 12 after a public outpouring as well as a fundraising campaign spearheaded by former Arkansas first ladies Barbara Pryor and Gay White.

Arkansas TV Foundation announced June 3 that it had met its goal of raising $2,151,449 for its PBS Dues Fund, created in mid-March, for fiscal year 2027. The final gift came from the Knight Foundation.

Foundation CEO Marge Betley told the commission that it also had secured more than $1.5 million for fiscal year 2028 and fiscal year 2029. In less than three months, it had gained commitments or cash for more than $5.25 million. All gifts collected will be applied to fiscal year 2028, which begins July 1.

Betley said one anonymous Arkansas donor had pledged $1 million for thee years. Other donors who have made three-year commitments have included the Walton Family Foundation, the Schueck Family Foundation, the Tyson Family Foundation, the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust, and Elaine and Claiborne Deming.

More than 1,500 households, businesses and foundations from every Arkansas county have contributed to the PBS Dues Fund.

Betley said the foundation is increasing support in fiscal year 2027 to cover the balance for the loss of federal funds and other operations and also to help pay for the costs of more local production. She said the foundation is looking at its own budget to be more efficient and more effective long term.

The commission also directed Wing to seek to obtain a more favorable financial arrangement with PBS. Wing told commission members the national organization had not been receptive to requests to lower dues or provide an a la carte model where Arkansas TV would select its programming.

PBS dues are based on a station’s total public and private revenues. The more money a station raises, the higher its dues. According to a financial report given at the meeting, the agency’s $9.1 million in expenditures nine months into this fiscal year have exceeded its $8.4 million in revenues by $700,000. The agency has benefited from $1.5 million in emergency funds from the foundation.

Compared to the same nine months the prior year, revenues decreased by $600,000 while expenditures decreased by $900,000. It deferred some capital expenses, but those will be included in the budget for fiscal year 2027. The next fiscal year budget will decreased by $637,189, from $14,071,571 to $13,434,382.

Wing said the station had not laid off employees.