Submit your question to Rob Owen

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "The Dead Zone," "Back to You" and a local newscast meltdown. As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

Q: Any idea why on the new ABC 2008-09 lineup "Wife Swap" and "Supernanny" were moved to Friday night instead of their usual night, Wednesday?

-- Karlyn, Whitehall

Rob: Because Friday is the new Saturday, a night some networks would rather just kiss off due to low ratings. That's why they may place lower-rated, less-expensive-to-produce reality shows there, in the case of ABC and Fox on their 2008 fall schedules, or series that don't really fit the network brand -- in the case of The CW, "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game" this fall.

Also, with regard to ABC and Wednesday, that night belonged to "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" when the 2007-08 TV season began. "Wife Swap" and "Supernanny" were simply filler due to the writers' strike.

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Q: Any chance that "Back to You" could be picked up by any other network? It seems NBC could use any help it could get.

-- Tom, Mt. Lebanon

Rob: "Back to You" really best fits the CBS brand, and since that network indicated it was unlikely to pick the show up this week , I think "BTY" is pretty much dead.

Fox's decision to cancel "Back to You" was clearly a last-minute course reversal. The network ordered and produced three episodes beyond Wednesday's season finale, presumably as a stop-gap measure in the event of an actors' strike. Fox's publicity department also sent out Wednesday's season finale for review. You don't do either of those things unless you plan to bring a series back. The last episode was taped this week. Those episodes are likely to turn up on DVD.

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Q: I was shocked and dismayed that "Moonlight" was canceled. Was the show too expensive to produce? The quality writing, acting and compelling characters seemed like a sure shot to get another chance.

-- Zeke, Pittsburgh

Rob: From what I've heard and read , it was a combination of money and the fact that the show's ratings have been disappointing in recent weeks.

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Q: Since the writers' strike, I don't watch TV as much as I previously did. I noticed that a show which I greatly enjoyed watching and still do watch has had lower ratings since its return from the strike.

Do you think the writers' strike hurt the TV industry and that viewers aren't tuning in to shows as much as they had before the strike? (I'm only aware of the actual lower ratings for the show I watch. However, I overheard someone saying how ratings for another show have also dropped since the strike.)

-- Karen, Pittsburgh

Rob: Yes, ratings have been down across the board, as we reported this week after your question arrived.

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Q: I am a huge fan of the Sci-Fi Channel's "Battlestar Galactica." By far one of the best shows on TV.

Being it is the last season, I have heard rumors that because of the success of "BSG," the Sci-Fi is planning a prequel of the show.

Is there any truth to the rumor that you may have heard?

-- Pat, Oakdale

Rob: We reported on the possibility of the "Battlestar" prequel "Caprica" way back in April 2006 although the project was not greenlit to production until March of this year. Casting news has been reported more recently.

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Q: I was wondering if we will ever see new episodes of "Big Spender" on A&E. For some odd reason I get a certain amount of joy from watching other people's train wrecks, and this show is a doozy.

-- John, Mesa, AZ

Rob: You will not. It has been canceled.

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Q: On TBS the other day, they were promoting Tyler Perry's sitcom. They said it was "The highest rated cable sitcom ever." That seems like a pretty bold statement. Can you clarify please? I'm sure that there is some extenuating circumstance to this, but I was hoping you can shed some light on what they mean or how they classify it.

-- Mike, Philadelphia

Rob: Actually, I don't think there is. We reported on the high ratings for the show's premiere last summer , and I don't think another original cable comedy series has topped it since. Variety also reported on the record when it was set last summer.

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Q: It is my understanding that USA has canceled "The Dead Zone." While I agree that the show jumped the shark when Walt died, I am dismayed that they did not finish the story line of the apocalypse. Are there any plans for a TV movie or to bring it back for an ending?

-- Christopher, Greenfield

Rob: Although fans have been campaigning to save the show, I don't think they stand much chance of success in getting a conclusion filmed. Producers knew the show stood a chance of being canceled, so they deserve some of the blame for leaving fans hanging.

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Q: I have a technical question regarding the ENG Cameras KDKA-TV uses in the field. This isn't the usual TV question, but I am a techno-geek and would appreciate a reply. Does KDKA have any plan to stop shooting on Panasonic DVCPRO and switch to Sony XDCAM?

CBS is switching their larger markets to the aforementioned Sony Camera and I was just wondering when or if this format will be coming to Channel 2.

-- Tim, Corry

Rob: Wow. Insider overload.

"Our HD conversion plan is in development," explained KDKA general manager Chris Pike. "The CBS O&O stations that have made the full conversion have transitioned to the Sony XDCAM for field acquisition and we would ultimately expect to make the same transition."

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Q: I enjoy watching the artistic model photo shoots on "America's Next Top Model."

I am a Comcast subscriber and for the last three or four shows, exactly halfway through the hour, when they come back from a commercial, the sound is distorted. You can hear the beats or music soundtrack very clearly, but the audio for all the voices is very low and there's a loud hiss over it.

Is this a problem with WPCW?

It's frustrating because the last half hour is when the models' photos are critiqued, and I'm missing all of the dialogue. I know "ANTM" re-airs on Sunday, but I'm not always able to tune in.

Have you heard other complaints about this?

It only happens when I watch this show. And it always kicks in at the same time.

-- Sharon, Mt. Washington

Rob: I've definitely experienced one or two seconds of silence while watching WPCW going back many years, and I did get a recent complaint about these silent patches during "Reaper."

KDKA's Pike said the station is working with Comcast to identify the source of the problem.

"For some reason the main audio channel is being canceled out leaving just the ambient noise," he said. "This problem has not been happening over the air or on other cable and satellite systems. It did not happen during the May 7 'Top Model' episode on Comcast systems. We apologize for the problem."

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Q: What on earth happened Tuesday with the Channel 11 5 a.m. news? It opened with a weather update (no intro), then a Pittsburgh (my town) promo with David Johnson, then another with Peggy Finnegan, then a no-intro weather update, then another Pittsburgh promo with David Johnson, followed by another with Peggy Finnegan, then Mr. Leach told us about RTN, then a black screen with women's heels in the background, followed, I think (it gets confusing) by Bob Bruce and Newlin Archinal introducing the weather, then a traffic report, then a break for about 10 minutes of advertising. I think the first news story started about 5:15 a.m.

The sad thing is that no explanation was forthcoming. What a lack of professionalism! Can you imagine Brian Williams letting that pass without comment?

-- Norman, Butler

Rob: Except on those dreaded sleepless nights, 5 a.m. is way before I'm awake, so I didn't see these technical difficulties. It sounds like another problem with the Ignite automated production system, but news director Corrie Harding said that was not the case.

He offered an explanation and acknowledged "we should have talked about the issues right after they happened.

"The challenges involved a very rare occurrence in the networked computers that help us put the news on the air," he wrote in an e-mail. "It wasn't simply an Ignite issue. There are networked systems that talk to each other (newsroom software that holds our rundowns, Ignite, the video servers, and a "gateway" computer that controls what moves where) and to put it simply, there was an anomaly this morning that created a 'kink' in the network.

"It would be unfair to characterize it as an Ignite problem, because it could have had an impact pre-Ignite as well. As we continue to move forward, rare occurrences like this have significantly decreased, but they may happen. I would equate it to the occasional microphone failure, or bulb blowing out on a set while we're on TV -- something that affects us, but is very hard to anticipate.

"That being said, our goal is to continue to reduce these occurrences to the point where the folks watching don't feel any impact. The work goes on ..."

You have to give Harding credit for owning up to the problem, acknowledging mistakes and working to fix the system.

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Q: I work for the American Forces Network (AFN) and am currently deployed to Afghanistan. My question is about the Pentagon Channel. On its Web site it gives the coordinates and directions for cable companies to add it to their lineup for free. I think many Pittsburghers would enjoy its programming. Armstrong Cable has had it since its inception but the bigger conglomerates have not added it. Is there any reason Verizon, Comcast, etc. will not add a great channel that will not cost anyone any extra money? Thanks for any information you can find out about this.

-- Rob, Fombell

Rob: I think it's probably a matter of bandwidth allocation and whether a cable system wants to expend bandwidth on the Pentagon Channel while subscribers clamor for more HD channels.

As to your specifics, FiOS TV does carry Pentagon Channel on Channel 104.

A Comcast spokesman said, "We strive to deliver our customers the most diverse array of programming. We're always evaluating new programming options and making adjustments to best meet the interests of our customers."

Regarding anchors/reporters and elocution: Janelle Hall of WTAE pronounces nuclear 'nuke-you-lar,' which makes me want to stick a fork in my own eye.

Kelly Frey of WTAE repeatedly makes the same glaring grammatical errors: "At 3 a.m. this/in the morning --" (at what other time of day does 3 a.m. fall?)

Thank you for being so precise. And -- I remember the nuns pummeling us for this mistake: "...and the man he was injured..." or "... the woman she was taken to a nearby hospital..."

Is there any way at all that this can be corrected? Does Kelly Frey need to meet Sister Mary Eustace?

THAT wouldn't be pretty.

-- Jill, Turtle Creek