Conway, Arkansas – After nearly six decades on the air, Arkansas PBS is preparing to turn the page. The station, which first launched 59 years ago, will rebrand as Arkansas TV next year, marking the end of an era for public broadcasting in the state.
The decision comes in response to a significant loss in federal funding. “In July, when the federal funding was stopped through the corporation of public broadcasting, that was a huge financial hit for our station. Those two and a half million dollars, which is 20% of our overall budget and a little over 30% of our television budget,” explained Carlton Wing, executive director and CEO of Arkansas TV. The nationwide cuts, reported by CBS News in September, eliminated more than one billion dollars in public broadcasting support, putting many stations in a precarious position.
Wing said that continuing the PBS affiliation would have left the station in serious financial trouble. “Without that federal funding, we would be bankrupt within about two years,” he said. “We had to make a decision, do we survive or do we adapt and overcome?” The rebranding to Arkansas TV is the station’s solution, allowing it to continue operations while focusing on local content and the state’s unique identity.
“We now have the ability to bring in a focus on our Natural State on Arkansas TV,” Wing added. He emphasized that maintaining a local focus was a driving factor behind the decision to leave PBS, ensuring that viewers would see content that is relevant and reflective of Arkansas communities.
The transition has raised questions among viewers who have grown accustomed to Arkansas PBS’s programming. The station is home to more than 70 programs, and many residents have been asking which shows will remain and which might be lost. Wing reassured viewers that while the network will be changing its name and focus, the genres they enjoy will largely remain the same.
“The genres will still be the same. And for people who still want to see specific programs that they’ve come to know on PBS, those are still available. They just won’t be available on our over-the-air broadcast,” Wing said. “We’ll have documentaries, we’ll have movies, we’ll have education, we’ll have all of that. It’ll just be different titles, but you’re going to see a lot more Arkansas.”
Officials also noted that Arkansas may not be the only state moving away from PBS in the near future. “It’s a financial reality that we had to do. There are many other states that are headed down the same path financially, and so everybody is going to have to address, how do we move forward based on the funding structure changing?” Wing said. The elimination of federal support has forced broadcasters to reconsider how to sustain their operations and maintain programming for their audiences.
The transition will be gradual, with June 30, 2026, set as the final day for PBS content to air on the network. After that, Arkansas TV will officially take over, showcasing programming that reflects the state’s culture, environment, and people. The move represents a major shift for public broadcasting in Arkansas, but station leaders are confident that the change will allow the network to thrive in a new financial and media landscape.
For decades, Arkansas PBS has been a staple of public television, delivering educational programs, documentaries, and cultural content to viewers. While the PBS brand will no longer be part of the station, the commitment to high-quality, informative programming remains. Arkansas TV aims to build on this foundation while exploring new opportunities to tell stories that resonate with local audiences.
“This is about survival, yes, but it’s also about opportunity,” Wing said. “We’re adapting to a changing world, and in doing so, we’re creating a network that’s even more focused on Arkansas and the people who live here.”
As the countdown continues to the official launch of Arkansas TV, viewers can expect familiar programs, new local stories, and a continued dedication to education and culture, ensuring that public broadcasting remains a meaningful part of life in the Natural State.
