No more PBS, Arkansas.

[hardcorestitch]

PBS will be leaving Arkansas on July 1 next year. The stations themselves will not be going away, but the PBS programming will be gone from those stations. Now Arkansans will have to hope that WKNO, WSIU, KOZK, KOZJ, OETA or LPB come in. While viewers in areas closer to the state line will have access via an out of state affiliate, areas like Little Rock will have to find something else to watch.

 

[Nayan]

Free article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/...e_code=1.8E8.9cET.kGMmAh4-AgWF&smid=url-share

 

[hardcorestitch]

Free article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/...e_code=1.8E8.9cET.kGMmAh4-AgWF&smid=url-share

So now there will be NO cartoons of ANY KIND on broadcast TV in Arkansas. Not even PBS. For shame. PBS Kids may be rivals to Disney, but the learning quality is out of this world.

The government’s a platypus.

 

[kanerf]

PBS has a streaming app if you cannot get the local stations.

 

[robinb]

That is super sad .

PBS has a streaming app if you cannot get the local stations.

That’s good to know. It’s a good option for folks with the means and ability to set it up on a device or smart TV. But, it’s not the same as getting the children’s programming right over the air. I can see how some folks will fall through the cracks and not know that it’s available, not know how to set it up and/or not be able to afford the device/TV to access it. Those kids, many from needy or migrant families which are the ones that need the early childhood programming the most, will miss out.

 

[BrianL]

It's a shame. As noted, as least some in Arkansas near me can still get the Memphis station but, then again, who knows how much longer that will last.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

PBS isn't just for kids. There are a lot of tv shows I've watched that in no way are meant for kids. PBS Masterpiece for example is not aimed at kids at all.

Just recently Ken Burns's documentary The American Revolution aired on that close to Thanksgiving (which like someone else mentioned heavily mentioned the streaming app during the programing). That is not a show a child should be watching.

There's local programming as well.

I think we do a disservice to ourselves framing it as if it's impacting children or minorities instead of everyone as a whole, it's important to us all. And when you frame it as important to us all it keeps it on a lot more people's mind what the loss of it would mean.

My local library systems (we have multiple here) do pick up PBS movies and tv shows as DVD or digital options but not all that air.

 

[tvguy]

Splitting hairs, but PBS is not LEAVING Arkansas. PBS is being DROPPED by Arkansas PBS stations.

 

[robinb]

Splitting hairs, but PBS is not LEAVING Arkansas. PBS is being DROPPED by Arkansas PBS stations.

Yes, because they lost the federal funding for PBS. Well… Everyone lost federal funding for PBS

 

[hardcorestitch]

PBS has a streaming app if you cannot get the local stations.

There are many parts of Arkansas who are digitally divided and even basic broadband may be hard to come by.

 

[Nayan]

PBS isn't just for kids. There are a lot of tv shows I've watched that in no way are meant for kids. PBS Masterpiece for example is not aimed at kids at all.

Just recently Ken Burns's documentary The American Revolution aired on that close to Thanksgiving (which like someone else mentioned heavily mentioned the streaming app during the programing). That is not a show a child should be watching.

This exactly. I doubt we'd ever get a number, but it would be interesting to see a breakdown of how many kids are actually watching PBS programming vs. adults. I tend to think it's be higher on the adult side, especially with shows like Nature, Nova, Masterpiece and other content not really for kids.

 

[tvguy]

Yes, because they lost the federal funding for PBS. Well… Everyone lost federal funding for PBS

That should not have been enough to be an issue. Our local PBS station said Federal Funding made up less than 5% of their budget. And local businesses stepped up and donated enough to close that gap. Or better yet, PBS who charge them less so they can afford to keep the programming in Arkansas.

 

[RangerPooh]

While we might not think of PBS has being trendy for children's programming, it was accessible. I've worked in a few low income school districts across the country, and the majority of the kids knew the PBS shows. Whether they're watching them at home or during inside recess, they were accessible.

There are many parts of Arkansas who are digitally divided and even basic broadband may be hard to come by.

This is what came to my mind. We're in Memphis and as BrianL posted, some could still stream what Memphis airs due to proximity. But not all parts of Arkansas has create internet connectivity. I think about where my kids attend scout camp, internet isn't great, even with Starlink (we've brought to summer camp cause leaders still need to work...).

 

[sam_gordon]

Our local PBS station said Federal Funding made up less than 5% of their budget.

And our local PBS said it made up 15-20% of their budget. I mean good for your station to have enough donors to not rely on the Feds as much, but can you understand the "poorer" states not having that support?

 

[tvguy]

And our local PBS said it made up 15-20% of their budget. I mean good for your station to have enough donors to not rely on the Feds as much, but can you understand the "poorer" states not having that support?

Yes I can. But what I do NOT understand is PBS not lowering programming fees for stations in this situation. PBS is in a much better position to absorb this drop in funds.

 

[lanejudy]

But what I do NOT understand is PBS not lowering programming fees for stations in this situation. PBS is in a much better position to absorb this drop in funds.

Except there are likely many in a similar situation. It's not just Arkansas; stations in other states are facing the same dilemma -- layoffs, reduced programming, trying to increase local donations, etc.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes I can. But what I do NOT understand is PBS not lowering programming fees for stations in this situation. PBS is in a much better position to absorb this drop in funds.

But you don't know if they did or didnt, nor what would be required to do so.

 

[tvguy]

But you don't know if they did or didnt, nor what would be required to do so.

Well, given the PBS stations DROPPED all PBS programming kind of indicates they didn't. They could have bought programing ala carte with in their budget too. That is very common. Not every PBS station buys the Lawrence Welk Show from PBS as an example.

 

[tvguy]

Except there are likely many in a similar situation. It's not just Arkansas; stations in other states are facing the same dilemma -- layoffs, reduced programming, trying to increase local donations, etc.

Exactly. The issue it appears that many of these stations were already on the edge financially. As an industry insider, it is shocking to me just how commercial PBS stations are now compared to when I got into TV in 1977.

 

[sam_gordon]

Well, given the PBS stations DROPPED all PBS programming kind of indicates they didn't. They could have bought programing ala carte with in their budget too. That is very common. Not every PBS station buys the Lawrence Welk Show from PBS as an example.

No, it doesn't. PBS could have said "we'll cut our programming costs 25%" and the station said "it's still not enough". That's my point. You don't know the details.

Presumably PBS (network) still has costs associated with the shows. If they discount the shows too much to the stations, then THEY come up short.