Established by the Alabama Legislature in 1953, Alabama Public Television became the first statewide educational television network in the nation, launching its first network broadcast in April 1955. Its innovative model went on to inspire public television systems across the U.S. and internationally, with more than twenty-five states adopting similar approaches.
Today, APT continues that legacy, combining public service, education, and trusted journalism with a modern newsroom designed to support both current needs and future growth.
Supporting Coverage That Matters to Alabama
APTV provides comprehensive coverage of issues affecting communities across the state, with a strong focus on state government and the Alabama legislature. As the network expanded its programming and added more content to its regular schedule, the need for a flexible, future-ready newsroom system became increasingly important.
With operations spread across Birmingham, where the network operations center is located, and Montgomery, home to APTV’s studios, the newsroom needed a solution that could support collaboration, efficiency, and evolving production demands.
Why Alabama Public Television Chose Octopus
Octopus Newsroom was selected to help APTV manage its growing production workload while remaining adaptable for the years ahead. Key reasons for the decision included:
- Flexible newsroom workflows designed to support current production needs while scaling for future expansion
- Custom workflows tailored to APTV’s existing production studio in Montgomery
- Future readiness, with Octopus prepared to expand alongside APTV’s planned new studio in 2026
- Role flexibility for staff, enabling journalists to seamlessly move between producing, directing, editing, and reporting
- Faster and more efficient content creation, supporting a lean team with broad responsibilities
Octopus Newsroom empowers APTV’s team to focus on storytelling rather than tools, an essential advantage in a public broadcasting environment where resources must be used efficiently.
Built for Multi-Role Journalists and Growing Newsrooms
At APTV, newsroom staff often wear many hats throughout the day. Octopus Newsroom supports this reality with an intuitive, story-centric workflow that allows journalists to transition smoothly between roles without friction. This flexibility has helped APTV streamline production while maintaining the editorial standards expected from a statewide public broadcaster.
Continuing a Legacy of Innovation
From its historic beginnings to its modern newsroom operations, Alabama Public Television has consistently been a leader in public broadcasting innovation. By choosing Octopus Newsroom, APTV reinforces that tradition-investing in technology that supports today’s production demands while remaining ready for tomorrow’s expansion.
As APTV prepares for its next chapter, Octopus Newsroom stands alongside the network, providing a stable, flexible foundation for public service journalism across Alabama.