TV Q&A: What happened to Me TV, PBS Kids and Cozi on Comcast?

Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review.

Q: Any idea why Comcast/Xfinity suddenly dropped MeTV, Charge and Antenna TV without notice (channels 204, 207, 208)? They have something listed as Slate Channel now, which has no description.

— Jeff, Pittsburgh

Rob: The channels — digital subchannels also available over the air — were not dropped, just relocated, and customers were given advance notice on their bills.

WQED PBS Kids channel moved from 200 to 1146.

WQED Create from 201 to 1147.

WQED Showcase from 199 to 1148.

KDKA Start TV from 195 to 1165.

KDKA DABL from 196 to 1166.

WPXI Me TV from 207 to 1169.

WPXI Laff TV from 206 to 1170.

WTAE Cozi from 204 to 1173.

WPGH Antenna TV from 208 to 1177.

WPGH Charge TV from 209 to 1178

WPNT TBD from 205 to 1181.

WPNT Stadium from 198 to 1182.

Q: Would it be possible to question the higher-ups in the network about directives not to cover stories involving older people (even if they are Pulitzer Prize winners)? “CBS Evening News” ran a copy story about the death of Pittsburgh native David McCullough. “ABC World News Tonight” and “NBC Nightly News” both ran nothing. I believe that Tony Dow’s death was ignored by CBS. Again, I’m concerned about a network policy that results in only covering stories about people from 18 to 39.

— Suzi, Belle Vernon

Rob: This is the kind of question that network publicists will be offended by and not likely respond to. I did hear back from one network, but only on background.

Whether or not they do, networks are never going to admit they purposefully cover stories that skew younger in the hope of attracting younger viewers.

While local TV stations certainly had an obligation to cover McCullough’s passing given his Pittsburgh roots — WTAE offered a nice 1:50 package; I could only find 30 seconds of anchor-read copy on KDKA.com and no video from WPXI broadcasts — for national outlets, Aug. 8 was a pretty busy news day that included serving warrants on former President Donald Trump and the death of Olivia Newton-John, who was 73 and whose passing was covered on “NBC Nightly News.” I could see how the news of McCullough’s passing might get squeezed out of a 23-minute (after commercials) nightly newscast.

McCullough’s passing was included in a 30-second anchor-read story on NBC’s “Today” and got a brief mention in the “NBC Nightly News” email newsletter.

Q: What is going on with the “Sister Wives”? I heard one of them left.

— Marge, via voicemail

Rob: That is, indeed, what the trailer for a new season, premiering at 10 p.m. Sept. 11, suggests. Christine, one of Kody Brown’s four wives in his polygamist marriage, announces she is formally ending their marriage after kicking Kody out of her home last season.

Q: Will there be a fifth season of “Agatha Raisin” on Acorn TV?

— Harry, Mt. Lebanon

Rob: Acorn has not announced plans for another season. The last episodes of season four streamed earlier this year, so it’s possible it could be renewed. Jane Seymour’s Acorn show, “Harry Wild,” recently was renewed for a second season to air in 2023.