Royal Aills, General Manager of Rogers State University Public Television, has been named the new Executive Director of Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Aills was selected by the Mississippi Authority of Educational Television Board of Directors after a national search.
Aills came to RSU Public TV in February of 2013 after years in the Tulsa broadcasting industry. He previously worked for Cox Business, KWHB-TV, OETA-Tulsa, and KJRH-TV.
“After a nationwide search, the board is pleased to have Royal Aills join our agency as Executive Director to lead our award-winning staff as we continue broadcast excellence in Mississippi,” said Board Chairman David Allen. “We look forward to supporting him as he begins his duties to take MPB to the next level of excellence.”
In his 10 years at RSU Public TV, Aills has increased public awareness of the station with new and innovative programming for wide audiences such as, “I Want Answers” a high school quiz program that provides student scholarships; “Living Grand on Grand Lake”, a program about the Grand Lake area and its amenities; and “Perspectives” a public affairs program hosted by television news veteran Sam Jones.
The station also has hosted political candidate debates, and “Film Noir Theatre”, a highly popular program about classic movies.
RSU men’s and women’s home basketball games and weekend home games of the Tulsa Drillers were also broadcast on RSU-TV.
In the past decade, station viewership increased and record funds came into the station through their annual pledge drive, “Festival”.
“I want to thank President Rice for giving me this wonderful opportunity 10 years ago,” Rice said. “Serving him and this institution has been a pleasure. I’m also proud of all the accomplishments the staff and I have enjoyed, but the one I am really proud of is the Distance Learning Channel in the wake of the pandemic.”
The DCL channel, 35.2, provides access for high school juniors and seniors seeking concurrent college credit telecourses at Rogers State University. These teacher-led accredited concurrent classes are available in rural Oklahoma, where many do not have access to high-speed internet.
“Through Royal’s leadership, RSU-TV has been a difference maker in northeast Oklahoma,” said Dr. Larry Rice, university president. “He has been a programming innovator and has grown exponentially a base of support for the station. We will miss his leadership and creative mind but wish him and his family the very best.”
During Aills’ tenure the RSU-TV team won numerous awards, including four Emmys, seven Tellys and many Red Bud Awards from the State Department of Tourism.
“I am looking forward to meeting all the team members and working together to continue building programming that educates, enlightens and entertains Mississippians across the state,” said Aills.
Aills is a graduate of John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark. He and his wife, Karen, have three grown daughters and two sons-in-law.
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