Gov. Kay Ivey replaced five of the seven members of the commission that oversees Alabama Public Television on Friday following more than a year of controversy surrounding the board.
Commissioners Les Barnett, Pete Conroy, Bebe Williams, Ferris Stephens and William Green have been replaced by Wallace Gilberry, Ric Smith, Neil Lamb, Sally Smith and Samory Pruitt, respectively.
Commissioners Tijuanna Adetunji and Logan Glass will remain on the Alabama Educational Television Commission. The five new commissioners will also take the seats on the Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority board, which oversees the fundraising arm of the organization.
“Governor Ivey believed it was time for the Alabama Educational Television Commission to have a fresh start. She appreciates those who have served,” Ivey’s Communications Director Gina Maiola wrote in a response to ADN. Maiola said the appointments are effective immediately.
The changes come after a difficult year for APT and its governing board.
Commissioners have debated APT’s relationship with PBS, ended WLRH radio’s affiliation with NPR and clashed over contracts, board procedures and the direction of the television network.
On Tuesday, the commission released results of a statewide viewer survey that was paid for with $39,500 from the APT Foundation’s rainy day fund.
The survey found 54% of respondents wanted APT to continue its relationship with PBS, compared with 18% who wanted the network to cut ties. It also found 62% wanted government officials to stay out of decisions about APT programming.
Reporter Trisha Powell Crain is an independent contractor with Alabama Public Television.