TV Q&A: Why so much turnover on local TV newscasts?

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: Why do none of the weathermen last at WTAE? First Jerry Martz, then Stephen Cropper and then Ray Petelin left.

— Diana, Harrison City

Rob: WTAE may have a slight edge when it comes to a revolving door of meteorologists compared to other Pittsburgh TV stations but not by much.

A few years ago KDKA could claim the most stability in the weather department but they blew that up once they dropped Jeff Verszyla in late 2018.

Bear in mind, the weathercaster departures Diana mentions happened over a 13-year period, 2005-2018. In that same period, WPXI shed Julie Bologna and Mike LaPoint (and Kevin Benson exited in 2019).

None of this is unusual. Local TV news is not a static business. And while the news teams at Pittsburgh stations are more stable than in plenty of other TV markets nationwide, change remains inevitable.

Q: I recently heard this on WTAE, but I’m certain I’ve seen it on the other two stations over the past six weeks. There was a short report on Feb. 17 that there will be a covid-19 vaccination event at the Lemieux complex in Cranberry. As I heard that, I thought, “Great, I need a shot and am over 65 and I live in close proximity.” Then the report continues that no walk-ups are allowed and that all appointments had already been filled. So my question is — what is the news value there? Who does that help by presenting it?

— Alan, Gibsonia

Rob: It’s a good question and maybe there’s a good answer. I asked WTAE news director Jim Parsons and general manager Charles Wolfertz and they did not respond.

My only guess is maybe it was in a script initially when there was availability and then slots filled up and rather than take it out of the script they opted to update it. Or perhaps it was intended as an update to a report from an earlier newscast when slots were still available.

Q: Where do Dick and Angel on HGTV’s “Escape to the Chateau” get all their money because they seem to have an endless supply?

— Betty, Latrobe

Rob: According to Hello Magazine, Dick Strawbridge had a successful career in the Royal Corps of Signals before appearing on several British TV series (“Scrapheap Challenge,” “It’s not Easy Being Green” and “Coast”). Angel Adoree began her TV career on BBC’s “Dragon’s Den” (“Shark Tank” in the U.S.) in 2010 when she presented the idea for a hospitality business.

The couple bought the chateau for approximately $390,000 and it’s now worth $2.7 million, so they can certainly get a line of credit with ease. In addition they rent space at the Chateau for $47,000 per wedding.

Q: My wife and I finished watching season one of “L.A.’s Finest.” While not a great show, we enjoyed it. Does Fox have any plans to air season two?

— Tony via Facebook

Rob: Fox does have the broadcast rights to the second season of the series but no air date has been announced. So the earliest it will air is late spring and it could hold until summer. Spectrum Originals canceled “L.A.’s Finest” after two seasons, so there won’t be more after Fox airs the second season of the show.

Q: Will the supernatural Travel Channel series True Terror be returning this year?

— Vic via email

Rob: There are no plans to make new episodes of “True Terror” on Travel Channel.