Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Saturday Tribune-Review.
Q: Can you explain why WTAE has three anchors during weekday broadcasts and can get away with one (like all other local channels) on weekends? Seems like a huge waste of money.
— Carol, via email
Rob: I’m fascinated by how much viewers are concerned about the spending habits of local TV stations.
A few weeks ago it was concern over WTAE putting two meteorologists in one newscast, this week it’s upset over Channel 4 having three news anchors in the mornings.
As noted in my column when Michelle Wright announced her upcoming retirement, Wright said the Channel 4 anchors like the three-anchor format both for the way it differentiates the broadcast from its competition and for the flexibility it allows for vacations because there’s no need to scramble for fill-ins — they just go down to two anchors.
As for why only one anchor on the weekends, those newscasts are much less of a priority for every station. Weekday morning news time periods are money makers; weekends less so.
Q: Is KDKA-TV going to move “CBS Evening News” to 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 5? There was an ad on Channel 2 on Jan. 1 promoting, CBS News is coming to your hometown starting Monday at 6:30 p.m.
— John via email
Rob: No, “CBS Evening News” will remain at 7 p.m. weekdays on KDKA. My guess is a corporate spot with the national airtime snuck through and didn’t get adjusted for the Pittsburgh airtime.
Q: Why don’t local stations cover Pittsburgh’s First Night anymore? I used to love watching our ball drop live instead of broadcasts from NYC or Nashville. I used to really like it when KDKA had it on with Heather Abraham and David Highfield. I have no interest whatsoever in CBS’s show from Nashville.
— Mike, via email
Rob: Presumably stations stopped covering Pittsburgh’s First Night live because it costs more to produce than they think it is worth. The answer is almost always money.
Q: How much is WQED, a public media outlet, spending to advertise on radio station BOB FM (96.9) and why?
— Christine, via email
Rob: This query came in shortly before Christmas, but when I started listening, I heard no ads for WQED.
Jason Jedlinski, WQED CEO, confirmed the station did not buy radio advertising.
“I expect Christine heard spots on BOB FM promoting the Trans-Siberian Orchestras concerts last [month], noting that some ticket proceeds are donated to WQED,” Jedlinski explained.
