APT Maintains Strong Public Support Despite Political Pressure

A controversial statewide survey conducted earlier this month found that Alabama Public Television (APT) remains popular with a majority of Alabamians. Conducted by Cygnal, an international polling, public opinion, and predictive analytics firm, the survey, conducted between September 20th and 23rd, discovered that 49.3% of Alabamians have a favorable opinion of the nation's first educational television network.

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According to survey results, two-thirds of Alabamians surveyed believe APT provides valuable educational programming for families and students.

The study was conducted because of controversy on the APT board after the Trump Administration cut federal dollars used for public television and radio operations at the national and state levels. The cuts followed President Trump's criticism of public broadcasting as being too liberal, exhibiting “left‑wing bias” in its news coverage and spreading “left‑wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars.”

The White House criticism filtered down to Republican-controlled state governments, where political pressure, funding disputes, and attempts to reshape or sever PBS partnerships divided governing boards like Alabama's.

Commissioners have been debating whether PBS is too political, too expensive, or out of step with Alabama.

Suggestions of cutting ties with popular PBS programming like Sesame Street, Austin City Limits, Antiques Roadshow, This Old House, long‑running dramas, science and travel, and documentary series sparked public backlash.

That pushback prompted the statewide survey with results now posted publicly. The survey gathered political, cultural, and programming data that could justify major decisions — including funding changes, programming shifts, and potentially ending the PBS relationship totally. The survey questions made the board’s motivations unmistakable.

Results from the study found:

• 3% of Alabamians have a favorable opinion of APT; less than 10% have an unfavorable view,
• 54% of those polled said APT should continue its relationship with PBS,
• 5% of respondents are weekly viewers,
• 600,000 households and 950,000 viewers (age 2+) watch APT each month, making the network Alabama’s most‑watched station,
• 57% support APT’s current state funding level or higher.

Cygnal concluded that APT’s brand is strong but not well known: it has a net favorability rating of +40, but 42% of people have no opinion or have never heard of APT. Some critics argue the 600-person survey is too small a sample to be totally accurate.

The governing boards of Alabama Public Television will next meet on February 2nd in Birmingham, with results of the survey expected to comprise a significant portion of the meeting.