TV Q&A: Why did WTAE re-assign Jeff Verszyla?

Q: Why is WTAE demoting Jeff Verszyla back to weekends come September?

First of all, he always looks perfectly groomed and dressed like a gentleman.

Next, he makes the weather news interesting and fun.

Next, his weather trivia is educational.

Is this a financial decision?

— Nina, via email

Rob: Given that Verszyla will still be employed at WTAE, just working weekends instead of weekdays, it’s unlikely a financial decision unless his contract allows for a pay reduction if he’s moved back to weekends.

The 4 p.m. newscast Verszyla was on was No. 1 in households and No. 2 in the key adults 25-54 demo in May 2025 sweeps, a duplicate of the 2024 rankings during the same sweeps period. Maybe station executives want to see more growth in the 4 p.m. news time period. But that may be hard to accomplish now that the show’s lead-in, “Kelly Clarkson,” was No. 2 in households and No. 3 in the key demo in May. (Clarkson was No. 2 in households and the demo in May 2024 before WPXI added “Judy Justice” as its 4 p.m. news lead-in in September 2024.)

Just as news director Baylor Long declined to comment beyond a prepared statement when the announcement was made last week, a station representative declined to comment in response to Nina’s question.

Q: Why is Bill Maher on CNN (with commercials)? I’m not feeling it like I used to since he had dinner at The White House.

— Susanne, via email

Rob: Maher’s HBO show gets a rebroadcast on CNN because Warner Bros. Discovery, parent company of HBO and CNN, wants to repurpose the show. Given the topicality of Maher’s show, it makes more sense to replay it on CNN than, say, TBS. And WBD executives must have data that shows replaying Maher on CNN won’t cause enough people to cancel their HBO subscriptions for it to make a material difference.

It remains to be seen whether this CNN rebroadcast will continue when CNN and its sister cable networks (except TCM) get spun off as Discovery Global from WBD’s studio, HBO and HBO Max business, which will be called Warner Bros.

Q: I note that the opening credit for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” now reads “A 20th Television Production,” but last year it was “An ABC Signature Production.” It sounds to me like Disney is doing some deck chair rearrangements since acquiring Fox. Or does this mean more control (and money) for Kimmel?

— Robert, via email

Rob: I doubt it has much impact on Kimmel, but ABC did dissolve ABC Signature, formerly Touchstone Television and later ABC Studios, after an almost four-decade run late last year. Its operations were folded in with 20th Television, which Disney acquired from Fox Broadcasting Company in 2019.

Q: I have the Disney+ and Hulu bundle. Why do I have commercials interrupting the shows? I got the promo version. Also, does Disney and Hulu block downloads? I can’t seem to download any shows.

— Peter, via Facebook

Rob: Commercials are included in the lower price, ad-supported plans. Peter would need an ad-free plan to avoid commercials.

Regarding downloads, per Disney+, “You must be a Disney+ Premium; Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium; Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Premium; or Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Legacy subscriber to download Disney+ content. Additionally, please note that, at the moment, Disney+ content cannot be downloaded on a TV-connected device, computer, or Windows 10 11 tablet. Disney+ subscribers or subscribers with a linked standalone Hulu subscription are able to download select Hulu content if they have Hulu (No Ads) and one of the previously mentioned Disney+ plans. Subscribers with eligible plans can also download Hulu content by using the Hulu app. Additionally, some ESPN+ on-demand content is not available for download at this time.”