The governing body of Alabama Public Television released the results of a survey Tuesday – a survey that has generated controversy over concerns it was designed to justify APT dropping PBS programming.
Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority members unanimously voted to post the survey’s results on the APT website at a meeting in Huntsville.
The board approved the survey, conducted by polling firm Cygnal, at a special meeting September 16, after plans with another company, McLaughlin and Associates, fell through. Critics of the survey pointed out both firms have ties to conservative politicians. Funded through the authority’s rainy day fund, Cygnal conducted the 44 question survey shortly after approval. The survey involved three days of phone calls and text messages to 600 registered Alabama voters.
The results show more than half of those polled think APT should keep airing PBS programming. Around 54% of people who responded said APT should continue its relationship with PBS, with 18% in favor of disaffiliating and 28% unsure.
APT as a whole was viewed positively. More than 67% saw APT as a valuable resource for Alabama families and students, while 16.7% said APT wasn’t valuable and 16.1% said they were unsure.
The majority of respondents also said political officials should keep their hands off programming with nearly 62% saying they either somewhat or strongly agree that officials should stay out of programming decisions. Another 16.5% disagreed, saying officials should have some say and 21.7% percent were unsure.
The push for a survey generated controversy over the past year, after some board members introduced the idea of dropping PBS programming from APT. Last November, Gov. Kay Ivey requested the board conduct a public survey prior to making any decisions on whether to disaffiliate.
Those opposed to the survey worried it was meant to justify APT disaffiliating from PBS and voiced concerns the polling firm Cygnal is politically biased, having done work for U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s campaign for governor and other conservative groups.
Foundation authority members in favor of the survey previously said it was not meant to justify disaffiliation but rather to take the pulse on what the average Alabamian thinks of APT programming as a whole.
