"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/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."

WNET will continue to operate NJ PBS through the end of June 2026 per our 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. WNET remains a willing partner to collaborate with whatever entity might assume operation of the New Jersey station in the future.

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ABOUT NJ PBS 

NJ PBS, New Jersey's public media network, brings quality arts, education, and public affairs programming to all 21 counties in the state. Headquartered at the Agnes Varis NJ PBS Studio in Newark, the network offers an array of local programs including Chat Box with David Cruz, Here's the Story, Drive By History, One-on-One with Steve Adubato, Pathway to Success, Que Pasa, NJ, Soundcheck, State of the Arts, Table for All with Buki Elegbede and Treasures of New Jersey and PBS favorites such as Nature, NOVA, Amanpour and Company and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Its award-winning newsroom, NJ Spotlight News, provides multiplatform reporting from across the Garden State on its weeknight newscast, NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi, and digitally via NJSpotlightNews.org, plus live news specials, community engagement events, podcasts and daily newsletters. The MyNJPBS.org network website offers streaming programs and free digital resources for educators via PBS LearningMedia New Jersey. NJ PBS is operated under an agreement with the state of New Jersey by Public Media NJ, Inc. (PMNJ), a non-profit affiliate of The WNET Group, the parent company of award-winning New York public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21.