Austin City Council proclaims June 9, 2025 as Austin PBS Day

AUSTIN, Texas — Today, José “Chito” Vela, District 4 council member for the City of Austin, proclaimed June 9, 2025 as Austin PBS Day on behalf of Mayor Kirk Watson in recognition of the station’s six decade-long commitment to public service, education and cultural programming.

During an event held at the Austin Media Center, Austin PBS board of directors, community advisory members and community leaders celebrated the station’s vibrant legacy and shared mission. Attendees heard remarks from Council Member Vela and Austin PBS leadership, which reflected on the station’s powerful impact in expanding access to early childhood education, lifelong learning opportunities and cultural enrichment. The celebration highlighted the organization's commitment to enriching lives and transforming communities through public media.

Across the city, Austin PBS Day was recognized by iconic cultural institutions, Antone’s Nightclub and the Paramount & State Theatres. Each updated their marquees with celebratory messages in support of Austin PBS Day, showcasing the station’s deep connection with Austin’s vibrant artistic and musical communities.

“Austin PBS is honored to receive this meaningful proclamation and deeply grateful to Council Member Vela, Mayor Kirk Watson and the entire Austin City Council for recognizing and supporting our role in the Central Texas community,” Luis Patiño, president and CEO of Austin PBS, said. “Today’s presentation and celebration reaffirms the strong connection we share with the people of Central Texas. As we face new challenges, we remain committed to delivering trusted programming and services that educate, inform and reflect the diverse voices of our region. Today is a celebration of that shared commitment.”

For more than 60 years, Austin PBS has provided free access to award-winning programming, from national documentaries and children’s education to regional journalism and emergency alerts. Each week, more than 509,000 viewers rely on Austin PBS to stay informed and inspired. The station is also home to the iconic Austin City Limits, the longest-running music television series in history.

“Public media is one of our greatest tools for education, civic engagement and cultural preservation,” Council Member Vela, said. “By proclaiming today Austin PBS Day, we are affirming our city’s commitment to protecting and preserving trusted, inclusive programming that enriches the lives of Austinites.”

Austin PBS Day signals the launch of a broader effort to protect the future of public broadcasting. The “Protect My Public Media” campaign is a national initiative focused on maintaining the vital services provided by local public radio and television stations. For Austin PBS, this effort aims to secure the continued delivery of trusted programming and vital services it provides to the Central Texas community.

Individuals and organizations can learn more about the current threats to public broadcasting and contact elected officials to advocate for saving public media funding. Supporters are encouraged to visit protectmypublicmedia.org to take action. Images and b-roll from the proclamation event can be downloaded via Dropbox.

About Austin PBS:

Since 1962, Austin PBS has been a part of Central Texas, delivering programs that educate, entertain, and inspire. As the only locally owned and operated nonprofit public television station in Central Texas, Austin PBS uses its unique position to serve as a bridge to the community and provide essential services to 3 million potential viewers in more than 20 counties across the region.

Austin PBS broadcasts 35,000 hours of curated content across four channels, devoted to education, arts and culture, and news and public affairs. We also provide a safe space for kids to learn and grow through our Austin PBS KIDS 24/7 channel. The station is home to beloved, award-winning Austin PBS Original series such as Austin City Limits, Overheard With Evan Smith, Central Texas Gardener, and its new weekly news program, Austin InSight, which blends in-depth reporting, incisive interviews, and Austin PBS’s unique approach to storytelling in an expanded commitment to news and public affairs content.

Tune into Austin PBS through one of our four channels, or stream online with the PBS App. Become a member and receive Austin PBS Passport, which gives station supporters access to even more content online—binge entire series before they air or catch up on programs you may have missed.