TV Q&A: Did WTAE's Kelly Sasso go part-time?

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: Is Kelly Sasso working part-time now? She’s never there a full five days

— Bridget, via email

Rob: Nope, her status with the station has not changed. Just as folks who work in TV get vacation time and sick days, they also get parental leave for the birth of a child.

“Part time?! How about double time! I have an infant at home!” said Sasso, whose son Ayven was born in April. “Joking aside, WTAE has fantastic policies in place for families, especially new parents. Having plenty of PTO aside from my maternity leave has allowed me time at home with my baby during these critical first few months. Although my vacations look a lot different these days (trading the beach chair for the nursery rocker) I am grateful to have had ample time this year to care for my son.”

Q: Why hasn’t Andrew Fillipponi been on “The Nightly Sports Call” on KDKA+ recently?

— Susan, via email

Rob: Fillipponi was out on paternity leave but returned to “Nightly Sports Call” last week.

Q: Will Rob King be retained as part of the SportsNet Pittsburgh shakeup?

— Rick, via Facebook

Rob: My understanding is King is not currently part of the regular rotation covering Penguins games on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Q: Why in the world is NBC editing down and repeating the Monday episodes of “The Voice” from 8-9 p.m. on Tuesday evenings? My wife and I enjoy this year’s “Voice” but have no interest in watching Tuesday night’s show.

— Carl, Monroeville

Rob: You may have heard it was a “hot labor summer” with writers’ and actors’ strikes that necessitated broadcast networks make due with alternative programming like what Carl describes as well as reruns of “Yellowstone” on CBS and beginning Nov. 16 the original British “Ghosts” (9 p.m., KDKA-TV) that inspired the American series of the same name.

Q: Why is it that if I download an app such as Travel Channel, History Channel, etc. on my smart TV, I am still not able to use the app without logging in through my cable provider? We cut the cord a couple of years ago and only have an internet provider. What good is the app and trying to watch a show on the app if I still have to have cable?

— Gary, New Kensington

Rob: Little in life is free. Cable/satellite subscribers get access to on demand cable content via those apps. Non-subscribers do not get access to on demand cable content. You get what you pay for and if you’re paying nothing, you get nothing.