Alabama Governor Kay Ivey Dismisses Five Members of Public Television Board After PBS Survey

Governor Kay Ivey removed five members of the governing board of Alabama Public Television, according to the Alabama Reflector. The dismissals followed a board-commissioned survey, released in late September 2026, that found majority support among respondents for Alabama Public Television maintaining its affiliation with the Public Broadcasting Service. The question of disaffiliating from PBS was first raised in October 2025, when two conservative board members proposed ending the relationship. Board member Barnett described PBS as "anathema" to President Donald Trump. The five dismissed members were removed days after the survey results became public. The board oversees Alabama Public Television, the state's public broadcasting network and a PBS member station. No replacement members were named in the report.