New Jersey’s only statewide public TV network will close June 30 after losing state and federal funding, marking the end of a 15-year run.
WEBDESK – NJNEWSLINE
NJ PBS confirmed it will cease operations when its agreement with the State of New Jersey expires, after failing to secure a renewal deal. The network is operated by Public Media NJ in partnership with The WNET Group.
The shutdown follows a dual financial blow: significant reductions in state funding and the passage of the 2025 Congressional Rescissions Act, which eliminated federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting—a long-standing source of funding for PBS and NPR affiliates.
Network officials said the loss of taxpayer funding made continued operations unsustainable.
NJ PBS, launched in 2011 as a scaled-down successor to the former New Jersey Network, had already been operating on a reduced budget for years. The original network was dismantled under former governor Chris Christie.
In recent years, NJ PBS and its digital arm, New Jersey Spotlight, faced criticism from some quarters over alleged political bias in coverage. The organization has not publicly responded to those claims in the context of the shutdown.
The closure leaves New Jersey without a dedicated statewide public television broadcaster, raising questions about the future of local public-interest journalism and educational programming in the state.
