Governor Ivey Replaced Alabama TV Board Members

Governor Kay Ivey removed five members of the Alabama Public Television Board and appointed five new replacements.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in People

Isometric editorial illustration of a broadcast tower on hilly terrain, representing Alabama public television administration changes.
Governor Kay Ivey replaced five members of the Alabama Public Television Board on October 2, following a survey regarding network leanings. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should governors have the power to replace public broadcasting board members at their own discretion?

Governor Kay Ivey removed five members of the Alabama Public Television Board on October 2, 2026. The governor appointed five new individuals to the board, whose positions remain subject to Senate confirmation.

Why it matters

The board reshuffling occurred shortly after the Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority released a public opinion survey regarding political figures and the perception of the network's political leanings.

The Cygnal poll reported favorability ratings of 46% for Governor Ivey and 44.3% for President Donald Trump. Respondents were largely divided on network bias, with 39.5% unsure of the television station's political lean.

The players

Kay Ivey

Kay Ivey is the Governor of Alabama who executed the removal and replacement of the board members.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the current President of the United States whose public favorability was measured in the survey.

The details

The removed members included William Green, Ferris Stephens, Les Barnett, Pete Conroy, and Bebe Williams, while Wallace Gilberry, Ric Smith, Neil Lamb, Sally Smith, and Samory Pruitt were named as appointees. Notification of the removal was delivered to the affected board members via email.

Timeline

  1. October 2, 2026: Governor Ivey removed and replaced board members.

Market Landscape

This leadership transition aligns with ongoing efforts to exert oversight on state-funded media institutions. The changes position the board under new stewardship while the network maintains its current operational mandate.

The change in board leadership may influence future programming decisions and public television management across Alabama. Viewers should monitor upcoming board meetings for changes to the network's strategic direction.

The takeaway

The sudden removal of board members highlights the intersection of public funding and political oversight within state media. Residents can expect further updates once the new appointees undergo the legislative confirmation process.

Further reading

Learn more about the latest leadership updates in the Alabama People section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by 1819 News.

Live Poll

Should governors have the power to replace public broadcasting board members at their own discretion?