OPINION - Editorial

EDITORIAL: New name, same station

Whether it's providing cartoons like Arthur for the little ones or nature documentaries and news, the Arkansas Educational Television Network has been a great value to the state since 1966. And now, it's getting a face lift.

The papers say AETN is rebranding itself as Arkansas PBS this month. Which makes sense, since it is a PBS member station, and has been since 1970. Here's more from our paper:

"The Arkansas Educational Television Network will change its name to Arkansas PBS effective Feb. 28, part of a rebranding that includes a greater emphasis on reaching out to its audience via the Internet, AETN Executive Director Courtney Pledger announced. The rebranding emphasizes the state it represents and its connection to the national Public Broadcasting System."

We grew up watching Sesame Street and other shows on public television. You can always count on PBS to provide clean educational content, and it's easy to see why members continue to donate money to it year after year.

Moving closer to the PBS brand makes sense. Other states like Iowa have done the same in recent years. That's how other television stations position themselves. KARK brands itself as an NBC station and pulls in NBC shows. KATV does the same thing with ABC. Their hope is after watching your favorite competition, network drama, etc., you'll stick around and watch their news programming, too.

It's an idea that's worked for decades and continues to pull in eyeballs. Arkansas PBS is doing the same thing.

Editorial on 02/18/2020

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