By STEVE BRAWNER
Big Bird of “Sesame Street” fame will not be appearing on Arkansas public television broadcasts starting next July. Instead, the station will be offering a lot more local programming, such as a new show that will help families prepare healthy meals on a budget.
The changes are coming because President Trump and Congress have cut all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The CPB was granting $2.5 million to Arkansas TV, – formerly Arkansas PBS – which was 20% of its budget.
Arkansas TV then used that $2.5 million to pay its yearly dues to the Public Broadcasting System. PBS is the distributor of “Sesame Street,” Ken Burns’ historical documentaries, and other programming.
Carlton Wing, Arkansas TV’s new executive director and CEO, explained the situation during a speech at the Rotary Club of Little Rock Tuesday. His first day on the job was Sept. 30.
Wing said the loss of federal funding put Arkansas TV in a tough spot. It was able to get through this fiscal year by cutting $1 million in capital improvements and other spending, and by raising an extra $1.5 million in donations. But that was a Band-Aid.
If the agency were to continue paying for PBS programming, it projected a negative cash balance of almost $918,000 in fiscal year 2028 and $3.77 million by the next year. Sixty percent of Arkansas TV’s funding comes from state government. Wing, until recently a state representative, said more money wasn’t coming from a skeptical Legislature.
By December, the agency was facing a deadline. It had to either re-up with PBS by the end of the year, or disaffiliate.
The latter would mean no more Big Bird and no more Ken Burns, and even then, cutting ties wouldn’t fully right the financial ship. By fiscal year 2029, Arkansas TV would be out of money and $112,976 in the hole. But the move would cut expenses and buy time.
It chose that option. The contract with PBS ends at the close of the state’s fiscal year June 30. Wing told reporters he believes Arkansas TV can reach a sustainable budget in the next couple of years.
“What we have the opportunity to do now is to march boldly forward with a business model that can work for the long term,” he said.
Arkansas became the first state to disaffiliate, although Wing said he has been in contact with similarly situated states who also will have to make some difficult decisions.
Not everyone agrees with the move. He told reporters that Arkansas TV had lost 600-700 donors since it began making changes.
While Arkansas TV will no longer broadcast PBS programming, the shows still will be available to online subscribers, Wing said. Of course, not everyone has access to that option.
Meanwhile, the station will be able to find plenty of content elsewhere. Wing told reporters afterwards that two other public media companies, American Public Television and the National Educational Television Association, will provide the same types of content PBS does, albeit with different titles. But the station will be paying $400,000 between the two instead of $2.5 million.
Moreover, Wing hopes to increase locally produced programming from its current 5% of its lineup to 30%. It’s continuing to produce “Blueberry’s Clubhouse,” a regional Emmy Award-winning children’s educational program. Meanwhile, it’s adding “Arkansas Taste Kitchen,” which will show Arkansans how to feed a family of four a nutritious diet for $200 a week. It will be hosted by television personality Craig O’Neill and will feature a master chef and the chief dietician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
In addition, a 90-minute documentary will describe Arkansas’ contribution to the United States. Its timing will coincide with this year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of the Independence. Additionally, universities and others will produce other shows.
“There are so many content creators in the world right now,” Wing said. “There is not just one source for content, and so we have the opportunity to be able to gather from a variety of outlets.”
No entity wants to lose 20% of its budget. Moreover, change can be difficult. But this change could be a good thing if it means more Arkansas-based programming that can help families save money on their grocery budgets.
We’ll know more by July 1, when Arkansas TV’s contract with PBS ends.
Steve Brawner’s column is syndicated to 21 outlets in Arkansas. Email him at brawnersteve@mac.com.