Three NJ PBS trustees resign

Four New Jersey PBS trustees have stepped down, including Chairman Scott Kobler, following last week’s announcement that the state’s public television station will shut its doors in July 2026.

“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,” Kobler said.

Kobler indicated last week that he intended to depart.  Three other trustees – Liz Thomas, Thomas Bracken, and Dick Pechter – have also resigned from the NJ PBS board.

“WNET has served the state of New Jersey well,” Kobler stated. “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.”

The final broadcast of NJ PBS is set for June 30, 2026.   WNET will continue its thirty-minute New Jersey weeknight newscast on THIRTEEN.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Liz Mazzeo as a recent resignation.  She had left the board earlier this year.