Montgomery, Alaa.. Facing public backlash, the commission that oversees Alabama Public Television voted Tuesday to continue paying its contract with PBS, rejecting an attempt — at least for now — to be the first state to cut ties with the streaming giant over politics and federal budget cuts.
The Alabama Educational Television Commission voted unopposed to continue advancing the contract with PBS that runs through July and to create a committee to explore the future direction of Alabama Public Television. A motion to provide the required 180-day non-renewal notice, the first step to severing ties with PBS, failed for lack of a second. The decision means that PBS programming, which includes shows such as “Sesame Street,” “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Antiques Roadshow” and “PBS NewsHour,” will remain on the state channel at least for the foreseeable future.
Last month, two panelists floated the idea of cutting ties with PBS, citing federal budget cuts for public broadcasting and accusations by President Donald Trump and other conservatives of bias in news programming. The possibility of dropping PBS sparked backlash from Alabama public television viewers and donors.
Carrying signs that read “Elmo is Not the Enemy of the People” and “Save PBS,” a crowd of more than 150 people gathered inside and outside Tuesday’s meeting to show their support for PBS. A few people wore Cookie Monster clothes or shirts with Big Bird. Many shared stories about what the TV show meant to their families.
Diana Isom, a 28-year-old substitute teacher, said the PBS programs have made a difference for her autistic son who initially had trouble speaking and walking but is now in kindergarten while still a preschooler. She said the children at the autism clinic her son attends watch PBS every day.
“Kids, especially autistic children, benefit a lot from a TV show… We need a TV show,” she said.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting provides about $2.8 million to Alabama Public Television, although the money goes to a foundation and is not used directly to buy PBS programming. The money will disappear due to federal budget cuts. Alabama Public Television is paying about $2.2 million to buy PBS programming.
Alabama Public Television Executive Director Wayne Reed said replacing the programming and digital support they currently receive from PBS would cost an estimated $3.5 million annually at a cost of $2.2 million. Dropping PBS would also likely cause a decline in memberships, which provide a major boost, he said.
“I think it’s clear from the CEO’s very strong presentation that not continuing with PBS would essentially be the death spiral of APT as we know it,” audience member Michael Snajderman told the panel.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Monday urged the committee to do so Decision pause She even studied Alabama residents’ opinions on the subject.
Committee member Les Barnett suggested giving PBS the 180-day renewal notice required by the contract. He said that this would give the state options if it decided to go in another direction after completing the study. The movement failed without a second. Barnett was one of the commissioners who proposed separating from PBS.
Tuesday’s action continues the direct relationship with PBS, although the commission may return at a later date and work to sever ties.
“Today was a signal that they are not interested in going in that direction,” Ferris Stevens, the committee’s chairman, said after the meeting.