Eastern Illinois University to end its affiliation with PBS in October

CHARLESTON, Ill. (WAND) - Eastern Illinois University will end its affiliation with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) effective October 1, 2025.

"The difficult decision follows the elimination of federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which will officially conclude September 30, 2025," the university said in a statement.

According to University leaders, the resultant shift in WEIU-TV's funding model makes sure EIU students will still have access to their broadcast journalism and news media production learning experiences at EIU. This includes its student newscast, News Watch, and related weather programming.

Currently, PBS accounts for approximately 25 percent of WEIU-TV's programming.

The station has identified existing programming options to replace its existing PBS content.

Going forward, WEIU-TV will drop its PBS brand affiliation and officially operate as "A Service of Eastern Illinois University."

The change does not impact WEIU-FM, which is licensed separately and not affected by the elimination of federal CPB funding.

The station's annual operational costs totaled roughly $1 million last year. EIU said the station has not received any institutionally appropriated monies since 2016.

Grants, underwriting, and local fundraising drives offset those costs by up to $165,000 each year.

"Unfortunately, the elimination of federal funding on September 30 represents a loss of more than $790,000 -- nearly 80 percent of the station's overall annual operations budget," the university said.

Federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) was discontinued in July following the Rescissions Act of 2025.