Overview
- Gov. Kay Ivey asked the Alabama Educational Television Commission to postpone any decision, conduct an extended voter survey, and publish a detailed separation plan for public review.
- The commission meets Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. to discuss disaffiliation, with no oral public comment planned and the option for commissioners to request a vote.
- After a $1.1 billion federal cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, APT lost nearly $3 million—about 13% of its budget—while it pays about $2.2 million annually for PBS programming.
- Ending the partnership would remove PBS shows such as Sesame Street and PBS NewsHour from Alabama airwaves, with APT officials warning of potential loss of more than $3 million in donor funding and up to 90% of current content.
- Viewers and donors are organizing petitions, letters, protests, and fundraising proposals, as commissioners cite funding pressures and complaints influenced by President Donald Trump’s criticism of public broadcasting.