Arkansas PBS will renew its membership with its parent company for another year, following a board vote Monday. The decision comes amid concerns over a potential $2.5 million loss in federal funding if cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, proposed by President Donald Trump, are approved. That funding currently makes up 51% of Arkansas PBSs operating budget.
Interim director Sajni Kumpuris said half of the federal grant supports PBS programming, which is a major driver of individual donationsmore than $3 million annually. CEO Marge Betley of the Arkansas PBS Foundation warned that donations could drop without access to national shows.
To mitigate possible losses, the foundation pledged up to $1.8 million using reserves and a potential public campaign. The network has also made internal cuts to help offset funding gaps.
Despite some commissioners’ concerns over contract transparency, the board approved the renewal. Without it, Arkansas PBS would have lost programs like Antiques Roadshow and PBS Kids, and reverted to its former name, Arkansas Educational Television Network.
For the full news story on changes at Arkansas PBS visit Arkansas Advocate for an in depth analysis.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady®NSI