TV Q&A: Will WQED-TV improve its signal?

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 word on the possibility of WQED-TV improving its signal strength? Between their reduced signal, my antenna not doing the job, and no PBS app for my LG TV to stream the broadcast, I can’t watch the new season of “All Creatures Great and Small,” and there is sadness in the household as a result.

— Susan, Murrysville

Rob: I checked in with WQED to see where things stand on getting an Ohio TV station to countenance Channel 13 increasing its signal strength.

“We have negotiated a mutual interference agreement with the Ohio station that shares (virtual Channel 13), and our attorneys are working with theirs to finalize the application to increase our power,” explained WQED spokeswoman Delaney Healey. “We expect it will take at least six months to hear back, once submitted.”

In the meantime, Healey suggests, “Many viewers have found success with fully extended ‘rabbit ear’ antennas, which are more suited for low VHF frequencies than the ‘ultra-flat’ antennas popular in stores. There’s a Fosmon HDTV Antenna Long Range for sale on Amazon for $12.99 that seems to work well.

“We hear the PBS app should come to the LG Content Store later this year. Until then, many viewers use Apple AirPlay or Google Chromecast to ‘project’ from their smartphones, tablets or laptops. The Google TV and Amazon Fire TV streaming devices — often available for (less than) $30 — also make it easy to watch streams from WQED.org or PBS.org on the ‘big screen.’”

Healey also notes, “Viewers like Susan have two weeks of free access to stream new Masterpiece episodes online: at WQED.org or PBS.org. That includes season five of ‘All Creatures Great Small.’ WQED Passport members can already binge the entire season and enjoy extended streaming access beyond the two-week window after broadcast.”

Q: When is “American Ninja Warrior” coming back to TV?

— Calvin, via Facebook

Rob: That NBC competition series always airs in the summer. NBC won’t announce its summer 2025 programming for several months but “ANW” has been renewed.

Q: What happened to Dr. Jen Ashton on ABC’s “GMA 3”? Is she still with the show?

— Nate, via email

Rob: Ashton exited her 13-year run at ABC News in June 2024 to focus on her women-centric media company, Ajenda.

Earlier this month ABC News hired cardiologist Tara Narula to be its new chief medical correspondent.