NJ PBS Announces Cease Operations Plans by 2026 Amid Funding Cuts

New Jersey PBS, the state's only public television station, will cease its terrestrial broadcasting operations after June 30, 2026, due to significant funding cuts from both the federal government and the state. The WNET Group, which has operated NJ PBS since 2011 following the state's withdrawal from funding public television, announced it could not reach an agreement with the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority to continue managing the network. Despite the end of over-the-air broadcasting, WNET will continue producing and airing NJ PBS's nightly newscast and other programming on New York City's Channel 13 and digital platforms. The decision was influenced by federal defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and a state budget environment that has reduced funding for NJ PBS. State officials and media leaders have called for a comprehensive review and potential restructuring of public media in New Jersey, emphasizing the ongoing need for reliable local government and policy coverage. WNET has expressed willingness to collaborate with New Jersey-based institutions to maintain public television services in some form, even as traditional broadcast methods evolve.