The congressional hearing on the Jan. 6 insurrection fomented by Donald Trump will begin airing tonight on the major commercial and cable networks and many other sources, but not Fox News. And also not the main Arkansas PBS channel.
A reader inquired about the PBS decision last night and I got a response to that question this morning:
This was a programming decision. We provide 4 channels that serve Arkansans. We often use WORLD Channel to augment the types of political and public affairs programming we present to Arkansans (including the Arkansas House of Representative proceedings), and it is part of our overall programming differentiation strategy to serve Arkansans with more choices.
PBS is putting the subsequent daytime January 6th Committee Hearings on the WORLD Channel so it is important to stay consistent on where our audience can find these hearings. Also, these daytime hearings may potentially be extended for weeks, and we need to preserve the airtime on the channel that we will be devoting to our essential “Rise and Shine” summer learning programming for Arkansas students.
Tiffany L. Head
Marketing & Audience Relations Manager | Arkansas PBS
The first hearing starts at 7 p.m. today. Arkansas PBS’s on-air program at that hour will be “Dairy Bars: Neat Eats and Cool Treats.”
Arkansas PBS says this about the availability of the World channel, including a streaming connection here:
These channels are available to watch over the air using an antenna hooked up to a converter box or digital television. However, it is up to cable and satellite companies to make these channels available to their subscribers.
Some cable systems include the channel. Other streaming options include the PBS Facebook and YouTube pages.
The PBS Newshour will carry the hearings live with reporting and analysis. But the Arkansas PBS on-air schedule will end Newshour at its customary time of 7 p.m., when the Jan. 6 hearing begins.
In fairness to Arkansas PBS, that’s more than enough coverage for legislators like Sen. Dan Sullivan and other PBS critics.