If you want AETN to return the PBS NewsHour to 6 p.m., call AETN at (501) 682-4198 and state your views. I called and the nicest woman, Tracy, answered who said that they were taking calls on the issue.
I have supported Arkansas PBS for over 20 years. I was horrified at the announcement by AETN that the national programming was to be discontinued due to budget concerns. A campaign was mounted led by two former Arkansas first ladies, and money through supporters’ donations of over two million dollars in less than three months from over 1500 members, coming from all 75 counties in Arkansas, was able to pay for two more years of programming for PBS and annual pledges of $1.5 million per year for 2028-2029.
AETN was forced to reverse its course but retaliated by moving the PBS NewsHour from 6 to 10 p.m. and cancelling Washington Week, making these programs more difficult to view. I consider this censorship and a violation of the first amendment of free speech cloaked in a budget argument.
Call now it’s easy and it takes all of us.
Gwen Bennett