Post-Gazette TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions online every Friday in Tuned In Journal blog at post-gazette.com/tv. Here’s a selection of recent queries.
Q: Why is the daytime serial "General Hospital" now showing repeats on Fridays, calling them "Friday Flashbacks"? Are they rationing episodes due to the pandemic until they are able to shoot on a regular basis again or is it something else entirely?
-JOE VIA EMAIL
Rob: Soaps record their episodes months in advance, but even some of them have exhausted their pre-taped inventory during the COVID-19 pandemic with the ABC show expected to run out of original episodes by the end of May.
So, yes, the Friday reruns of “General Hospital” are an effort to stretch out new episodes longer. TheWrap.com reports “GH” is also adding flashbacks to new episodes in another effort to stretch out the run of original episodes.
CBS soaps “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” went into reruns on April 25 and are now airing theme weeks of reruns. This week “Y&R” features episodes dating back to 1981 for “Victor and Nikki: A Lifetime of Love,” while “B&B” reaches back to 1991 for its “Epic Weddings Week.”
NBC’s “Days of our Lives” is in better shape with enough original episodes stockpiled to see the show through to October.
Q: Recently KDKA-TV anchors started saying, “If you want to see so and so, tune in to CBSN Pittsburgh.” What is this? And how do you find it?
-SUSAN, BETHEL PARK
Rob: My colleague Maria Sciullo wrote about CBSN Pittsburgh when it launched in early March.
It’s a free ad-supported streaming service you can access via CBSN, on CBSNews.com, and on the CBS News apps for mobile and connected TV devices. In addition, the service is available through www.CBSPittsburgh.com and the CBS Local mobile app. Ultimately it will be available via subscription streaming service CBS All Access.
Q: Unlike KDKA-TV and WPXI-TV, why aren't WTAE-TV meteorologists broadcasting weather forecasts from their homes during the pandemic? Am I to assume that it's because it is a logistical problem?
-JOEY VIA E-MAIL
Rob: I posed Joey’s question to WTAE news director Jim Parsons, who responded with a link to an April 28 weather hit featuring Ashley Dougherty broadcasting from what appears to be her home.
That same day Cam Tran appeared to be forecasting from the studio in front of a green screen in the 11 p.m. newscast. Dougherty again offered the forecast from home the morning of April 29.
Parsons did not respond to follow-up questions about how Channel 4 is handling who is in the studio versus at home.
Q: I just received my monthly Comcast cable TV bill, and it includes an $8.75 Regional Sports Fee. Comcast’s FAQ says “The Regional Sports Network Fee is … is based upon our costs of providing the regional sports networks that we carry on our cable systems in each area. These costs include the fees that regional sports networks charge us to carry them on our cable systems.”
Since as we all know there haven’t been any regional sports for over a month, do you know if Comcast and other cable systems are going to be waiving or refunding these fees while regional sports remain in hiatus?
-MARK, SQUIRREL HILL
Rob: While I sort of understand this line of thinking, it’s not like these channels have suddenly gone black. Comcast is still being charged by AT&T Sports Net and Big Ten Network, and Comcast is still passing that cost onto consumers.
My understanding is Comcast is looking at programming contracts in light of this COVID-19 experience.
“Any rebates will be determined once the NBA, NHL and MLB announce the course of action for their seasons, including the number of games that will be played, and of course we will pass those rebates or other adjustments along to our customers,” said Western Pennsylvania Comcast spokesman Bob Grove.
Ask TV questions by e-mailing rowen@post-gazette.com, including your first name and location.
First Published: May 6, 2020, 12:00 p.m.