Concern Grows For Alabama Public Television Amid Funding Crisis
Coping with a sudden loss in federal funding by the Trump Administration, Alabama Public Television (APT), like other state public television networks and stations, came face-to-face with additional financial hardship. Now some want to drop PBS.
When Congress decided this past summer to eliminate $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting (Alabama Republicans voted to cut the funding while Democrats voted no). it left some 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations, including APT, with a quandary, how do they continue to pay for quality Public Broadcasting System (PBS) shows like “Sesame Street,” “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Antiques Roadshow”, "Masterpiece Theatre" and “PBS Newshour.” Alabamians could lose access to those programs on state airwaves if the Alabama Educational Television Commission opts to become the first state network to sever ties with PBS. Afterall, public television may be free to its viewers, but the programming is not.
The nonprofit Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides grants to public broadcasting, announced the loss of funding from Trump and the Republican controlled congress would force it to shut down. The trickle-down impact is now making life unbearable for state public TV networks and stations. They receive public donations, but the bulk of their operating revenue comes from CPB.
While the state's education commissioners decide what track to take, Gov. Ivey chimed in with a letter to the commission. “While I’m sympathetic to the concerns that may be prompting this proposal, such a sweeping, immediate action, especially if taken unilaterally by the executive branch, should be undertaken only after a thorough planning process and only with a thorough understanding of public opinion,” Ivey wrote.
Ivey asked the commission to conduct an extended survey of Alabama voters “to ensure their voices are heard.” She said the commission should also develop a separation plan that “should be available for public review for a considerable length of time before any vote is taken.”
Some critics claim the governor is not attempting to save APT but rather get an idea of the level of public support for it. She did not offer any funds to help APT pay the bills.
All of the Alabama Congressional Delegation's GOP members voted to axe public television and radio funding claiming they are too liberal. The state's two Democrats, including West Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell, vote not to.
While Ivey says public television should align with "Alabama values", viewers, including Republicans, are mounting an effort to save the nation's first public television network. Petitions and posts were shared across social media, urging people to “Save PBS for Alabama Children” and “Don’t let Alabama send Elmo packing.”
APT has a production center on the University of Alabama campus. UA is also home to a public radio station.
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