Supporters of PBS held up signs at the Arkansas TV commission meeting held on Thursday, March 12, 2026 in Conway, Arkansas. | Arkansas Advocate photo by Katie Adkins
By ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA | Arkansas Advocate
The nonprofit for Arkansas’ public television network has achieved its financial goal for its fund dedicated to covering PBS dues, officials announced Wednesday.
The announcement by the Arkansas TV Foundation comes a day before a state commission is expected to vote whether to move forward with plans to cut ties with PBS.
The fund launched in March after the Arkansas TV Commission paused its decision to cut ties from PBS. Arkansas TV is the rebranded name of Arkansas PBS and what was previously the Arkansas Educational Television Network.
Arkansas is the only state whose public television station responded to the defunding and closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by moving to end its affiliation with PBS.
Arkansas TV CEO Carlton Wing has said the station couldn’t afford to pay more than $2 million to PBS for membership dues without the funding it previously relied on from CPB.
Disaffiliating from PBS means Arkansas TV would no longer have access to PBS programming, a possibility that prompted pushback from Arkansans who said they rely on that programming.
Over the last three months, Arkansas TV Foundation secured more than $2.1 million needed for PBS dues for the fiscal year beginning July 1, according to a news release. The Knight Foundation provided the final gift to reach the campaign goal.
Earlier gifts from an anonymous Arkansas donor, the Walton Family Foundation, Schueck Family Foundation and Tyson Family Foundation spurred grassroots fundraising efforts, according to the release.
The foundation has also secured commitments of more than $1.5 million each towards the cost of PBS dues in fiscal years 2028 and 2029.
Friends of Arkansas PBS, a citizen-led group that formed in February with the goal of preserving PBSprogramming in the state, praised the foundation’s announcement Wednesday. The group is chaired by Gay White, widow of former Gov. Frank White, and Barbara Pryor, widow of former Gov. David Pryor.
“We are so appreciative of the Arkansas TV Commission for pausing disaffiliation and giving Arkansans a chance to work together to save this valuable programming,” White and Pryor said in a statement. “In less than three short months, Arkansans have shown the world that issues can be solved by kindness and generosity.”
The Arkansas TV Commission is expected to discuss its affiliation with PBS when it meets at 10 a.m. Thursday.
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