On Dec. 11, 2025, the Arkansas Educational Television Commission voted to disaffiliate from the national PBS network. The reason given was that it was a financial decision. I believe the given reason is a red herring and that there is no need to immediately terminate the relationship with PBS.

We have time, maybe as much as two years, to figure out how to meet whatever fiscal challenges Arkansas PBS may have. Their decision would unnecessarily remove many popular programs Arkansans enjoy and rely on. The decision is not financial; it is abrupt and it is political.

In June 2025 the commissioners agreed to renew Arkansas PBS' membership with PBS for another year. The decision was made after President Donald Trump successfully rescinded $1.1 billion in previously approved federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). That cutback included $2.5 million in annual funding for Arkansas PBS, representing about 20 percent of the station's $13 million annual budget.

In September, Carlton Wing was nominated by the Arkansas PBS governing board, most of whom were appointed to the commission by Governor Sanders, to be the new executive director of the commission. The network publicly announced his appointment as the new leader on Sept. 26, and Mr. Wing officially assumed the position on Sept. 30. That is also the date he resigned........

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