Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby in 'Sesame Street.' Netflix Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Alabama's Public Television Board voted on Tuesday to keep its contract with PBS after the decades-long agreement that brings Sesame Street, PBS NewsHour, and other notable series into residents' homes came under threat amid the Trump administration's funding cuts to and commissioners aligned with the president floated the idea of dumping the programming altogether. The vote came after a Tuesday meeting that featured several impassioned public comments from Alabamians, who pleaded with board members to keep the educational and arts-oriented programming broadcasting into their homes. Funding will be provided through June of 2026. Had the board cut ties with PBS, Alabama would have been the first state in the U.S. to do so, as budgets are being crunched amid the federal cuts across the sector. Related Stories TV 'The American Revolution': How to Watch the Documentary Miniseries Online Without Cable for Free TV 'The American Revolution' Review: Ken Burns Tackles the War for Independence in Patriotic, Pragmatic and Familiar Form In July, Congress withdrew $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting, leaving around 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations with shortfalls. Meanwhile, some state commissioners have joined President Trump in accusing PBS of political bias against Republicans and dismissed it as an unnecessary expense. Alabama Public Television pays about $2.2 million yearly for PBS programming - the discounted figure after the federal funding cut. On Monday, ahead of the scheduled meeting, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey wrote a letter to the Board asking that they delay any decision to cut funding to PBS until the public could weigh in and a continuity plan could be developed. "While I'm sympathetic to the concerns that may be prompting this proposal, such a sweeping, immediate action, especially if taken unilaterally by the executive branch, should be undertaken only after a thorough planning process and only with a thorough understanding of public opinion," Ivey wrote, asking for a survey to be conducted among Alabamians and a separation plan available for public view. The threat to PBS in Alabama arose at a commission meeting in October as the impact of federal funding cuts was beginning to be felt across the nation, and the recently ended federal government shutdown was in its early days. Alabama Public Television Executive Director Wayne Reid expressed in that meeting that he has heard the idea of axing the contract from two AETC commissioners, Les Barnett and Ferris Stephens; PBS carries a "negative connotation," they told him, according to the Alabama Reflector. "I don't want to fund it. PBS has made themselves [sic] the enemy of what I stand with, and so I do not like them, and I don't follow the philosophy of feeding the beast," Barnett said. The Oct. 28 board meeting concluded with split opinions on the matter, and the dispute was deferred to today's hearing. Ideas were floated around an a la carte-style relationship with PBS, in which the state would cherry-pick the programming it wants at a discounted rate. And on Monday, Reid said that the PBS programming could be supplemented by various American Public Television offerings. Now, 90 percent of the APT's programming comes from PBS, Alabama Public Television Board member Johnny Curry noted. As the prospect of losing PBS shows went public, a groundswell of support emerged on social media, with a postcard campaign launched, letters written to board members, Facebook groups asking to "Save PBS for Alabama Children," and the civic organization Indivisible mobilizing around the vote in groups geared toward residents in several cities across the state. While Alabama will continue its PBS contract for the time being, the fight for public broadcasting amid the second Trump administration has had its casualties. PBS has reduced staff by 15 percent; NJ PBS will cease operations in June 2026; and other stations have had to rely on fundraising drives and wealthy donors as to bridge a major, sudden budget gap. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Live Feed 'Landman' Stars Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott Open Up About "Very Emotional" Father-and-Son Tale in Season 2 Live Feed 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Star Layla Taylor on Embracing Authenticity and Why She Doesn't Align With the Church Anymore White House Donald Trump Calls for Pulling ABC License Over "Insubordinate" Epstein Files Question Live Feed 'Line of Duty' Returns: Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar Reprising Roles in Season 7 of Hit BBC Drama Live Feed 'Survivor' Meets 'The Walking Dead' in Horror Icon's New Reality Series Sports Profess