Majority of Alabamians Back Keeping PBS on Public Tv, Survey Shows

Huntsville, AL — A newly released survey shows a majority of Alabamians support Alabama Public Television (APT) continuing its affiliation with Public Broadcast Service (PBS) programming. The survey results, announced at an Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority (AETFA) meeting in Huntsville on Tuesday, come after nearly a year of discussion among the APT governing body about potentially dropping PBS content. Despite the survey’s findings, commissioners took no action based on the results at the meeting.

The survey, conducted by Cygnal—a Republican-aligned polling firm—at a cost of $39,500 from APT’s emergency fund, found that 54% of respondents support maintaining PBS programming. In contrast, 18% were against continuing the affiliation, while 28% remained unsure about the issue.

The push for disaffiliation was initiated last year by AETFA Commissioners Les Barnett and Ferris Stephens. This discussion emerged following congressional Republicans’ decision to cut $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a major funding source for 330 PBS and 246 NPR affiliates nationwide. These stations have since relied on fund drives and other philanthropic efforts to continue operations.

However, Commissioner Barnett stated at an October AETFA meeting that his opposition to PBS programming was not primarily a funding issue, but rather stemmed from what he described as the public network’s alleged political bias. Barnett said PBS had made itself "an enemy of what I stand with," and expressed reluctance to fund it.

Further insights from the Cygnal survey revealed that 62% of respondents wanted officials to remain out of programming decisions, compared to 16% who supported such intervention. Additionally, 48% believed that tying funding to politicians' approval of content gives elected officials too much power, while 23% were in favor of elected officials restricting public dollars in this manner.

The AETFA meeting in Huntsville on Tuesday saw dozens of residents turn out to oppose Alabama Public Television disaffiliating with PBS. Public comment also touched on the decision by Huntsville's local public radio station, WLRH, to end its NPR affiliation last year following the congressional cuts to CPB. Rep. Marilyn Lands, a Democrat from Huntsville, criticized WLRH’s disaffiliation, stating the decision was made unilaterally and without community input, long-term station staff, or donors who had sustained the station for decades.

Commissioner Stephens, who chairs the AETFA, initially attempted to limit public comments to those who had not spoken at previous meetings. However, after pushback from the audience, all 24 individuals who signed up for public comment were allowed to speak, extending the meeting for well over an hour.

Carolyn Sanders, a Huntsville resident, urged the commission to remember whom they serve: all the people of Alabama. She called for the protection of WLRH, PBS, and the principle that citizens in a democratic society should be trusted with information and to think for themselves.

Another commissioner, Bebe Williams, acknowledged a significant divide, fueled by social media, that makes dialogue difficult. While she expressed her fondness for PBS kids' programming and stated she never wanted to eliminate it, Williams indicated a desire for balance, noting that some conservatives she spoke with found News Hour difficult to accept. During moments when commissioners suggested PBS and NPR programming lacked balance or illustrated bias, Stephens used his gavel to control what he referred to as "outbursts" from the audience.

Of approximately 40 attendees present, only two raised their hands when asked if they backed the decision to disaffiliate from NPR. Both individuals echoed concerns over perceived anti-conservative bias. Most others in attendance viewed the commission's actions as an attempt to block information rather than to achieve political balance. Resident Susan Stewart commented that some perceive facts as having a liberal bias, adding that she could not support WLRH if it amounted to censorship.

The AETFA did not take any action on the survey results during the Tuesday meeting. The authority’s next meeting is scheduled for February 2.