NJ PBS said Sept. 29 that because the network announced it would cease operations on June 30, 2026, some of its trustees have chosen to leave the board of directors, including Chairman Scott Kobler. Â
Thus far the following NJ PBS board members have resigned: Kobler (partner, McCarter & English, LLP); Vice-Chair Liz Thomas, vice-chair (co-founder/CEO of Thomas/Boyd Communications); Thomas A. Bracken (president/CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce); and Richard “Dick” Pechter (retired, former chairman of Donaldson, Lufkin, & Jenrette’s (DLJ) Financial Services Group).
“We are grateful to all for their leadership and service and look forward to working with our current board members to plan for the sunsetting of the network next year,” said Debra Falk, spokeswoman for NJ PBS.
NJ PBS was launched in 2011, and some of the board members who are departing have been involved with New Jersey public media for much of their careers.  Â
“We thank all of our Trustees for their service and insight. NJ PBS would not have become the robust provider of New Jersey news and programming without their help,” said WNET President and CEO Neal Shapiro, who also serves on the NJ PBS board.
“Some of those leaving us have shared their intention to work towards paving a path for the state’s next public broadcast operator. We wish them the best and WNET remains committed to assisting any new entity relaunching a Garden State public television network in whatever way we can.”
“WNET has served the state of New Jersey well,” said Kobler. “They assumed operations of New Jersey’s public media network in its time of need in 2011. The work of the reporters on NJ Spotlight News, on the air and online, continues to be exemplary and fills a huge void. I could not have been prouder to be a part of it. I wish the state of New Jersey had responded in a more cooperative fashion when it came to a renewal. I’m stepping aside as chair to allow WNET to more directly manage the end of the NJ PBS term and look forward to doing my part to assist the next iteration of public media in New Jersey.”Â
WNET said it will continue to operate NJ PBS through the end of June 2026 through its operating agreement with the state. After June, WNET will continue to serve constituents with an ongoing half-hour New Jersey weeknight newscast on THIRTEEN and on its digital platforms, as well as make the program available to other outlets that may want to air or stream it. Â
NJ PBS announced on Sept. 23 that it would be shutting down in 2026 after it was unable to reach an agreement with the state’s Public Broadcasting Authority to continue operating the public television station, it was announced Sept. 23.
The public television station was a victim of recent cuts by federal and state governments. NJ PBS was rebranded from WNET 14 years ago.Â
State legislators reduced funding for NJ PBS by 75% in the most recent New Jersey state budget to $250,000. The federal budget bill cut billions in public media funding, including $1.1 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which announced on Aug. 1 that it was beginning to wind down operations after Congress passed a measure that clawed back more than $1 billion in funds to the organization.
