In a historic and controversial move, the Arkansas Educational Television Commission (AETC) voted 6-2 in December to disaffiliate from PBS, making Arkansas the first state in the nation to sever its relationship with the public broadcasting network. The separation is set to take effect July 1, 2026.
The decision has sent ripples through the state and garnered national attention. Supporters of the split, including Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' administration, have framed it as a move toward state independence in educational content decisions. The rebranded network will operate under the name Arkansas ETV and will develop its own programming.
Critics, however, warn of significant consequences for rural communities across the Arkansas Delta — including those in and around DeWitt and Arkansas County. PBS programming has historically provided free educational content to areas with limited broadband access, and the loss of PBS KIDS programming has been a particular concern for families with young children.
In the weeks following the announcement, PBS KIDS Vice President Sara DeWitt visited Arkansas on February 19, 2026, meeting with parents, educators, and community leaders to discuss the impact of the transition. The "Friends of Arkansas PBS" advocacy group has organized rallies and public forums urging the commission to reconsider.
The disaffiliation means Arkansas will lose access to nationally beloved programs such as Sesame Street, Frontline, and PBS NewsHour. The state network will need to source or produce replacement content to fill its broadcast schedule.
For communities in the Arkansas Delta, where over-the-air broadcast television remains a primary source of information and entertainment, the transition raises questions about access to quality educational programming for children and reliable news coverage for adults.
Sources: THV11, Arkansas Advocate, multiple state and national outlets