Listen to this articleIn the wake of the news that NJ PBS will go dark next year, several members of its board of trustees – including Chair Scott Kobler – have submitted their resignations.
As reported Sept. 24, The WNET Group announced that NJ PBS would cease operations next summer. The nonprofit serves as parent company of the state’s lone public television station. It pointed to a slew of state and federal budget cuts leading to the decision.
After NJ PBS goes dark in June 2026, WNET will continue to air a half-hour New Jersey weeknight newscast on THIRTEEN and its digital platforms.
Announcing the resignations Sept. 29, NJ PBS says it has been fortunate to have the support of an engaged board since its 2011 inception.
“We thank all of our Trustees for their service and insight,” said WNET President and CEO Neal Shapiro, who also serves on the NJ PBS board. “Some of those leaving us have shared their intention to work towards paving a path for the state’s next public broadcast operator. We wish them the best and WNET remains committed to assisting any new entity relaunching a Garden State public television network in whatever way we can.”
Looking ahead
The announcement of the NJ PBS sunset drew strong reactions from leaders throughout the state. They stress the importance of and need for New Jersey to have a public television station; as well as how to best move forward.
“WNET has served the State of New Jersey well,” said Kobler. “They assumed operations of New Jersey’s public media network in its time of need in 2011. The work of the reporters on NJ Spotlight News, on the air and online, continues to be exemplary and fills a huge void.”
Kobler says he could not have been prouder to be part of it.
“I wish the State of New Jersey had responded in a more cooperative fashion when it came to a renewal,” Kobler continued. He wrote a Sept. 24 op-ed in the New Jersey Globe, which placed blame on the state. “I’m stepping aside as Chair to allow WNET to more directly manage the end of the NJ PBS term and look forward to doing my part to assist the next iteration of public media in New Jersey.”
WNET says it remains a willing partner to collaborate with whatever entity might assume operation of the station in the future.
Please stay with NJBIZ for the very latest on this developing story.
