TV Talk: Netflix delivers Christmas Day Steelers game; new Tamburitzans special on WQED-TV

Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers local viewing tips for the holiday season.

As the number of locally produced holiday specials continues to dwindle, Netflix enters the fray to gift Steelers fans nationwide by streaming the Steelers game (against the Chiefs) from Acrisure Stadium at 1 p.m. on Christmas Day.

Netflix’s two Christmas games — Ravens vs. Texans streams at 4:30 p.m. featuring a halftime performance by Beyoncé — also air on local linear TV stations of the competing teams. For the Steelers game, KDKA-TV will simulcast Netflix’s coverage.

WPXI has no local holiday shows to offer this year, but WQED-TV debuts “Tamburitzans Presents Reflections” (8 p.m. Nov. 30), the fourth Tammies special created by WQED producer Frank Caloiero, a former Tamburitzan.

WQED will showcase holiday performances by local musicians at 8 p.m. Dec. 12, 4 p.m. Dec. 13 and 1 p.m. Dec. 29.

Pittsburgh’s PBS station also has a vast library of past Christmas programs as well as local shorts for online streaming, including Rick Sebak reading “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and Joe Wos reading his “Yinzer’s Night Before Christmas.”

Fred Rogers Productions offers two new holiday-themed episodes of its PBS Kids series. “Alma’s Way” celebrates with the episode “No Sleep ‘Til New Year’s” (7:30 a.m. Dec. 2, WQED) and “Donkey Hodie” welcomes the new year with a new rendition of Fred Rogers’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” in an episode debuting at 11 a.m. Dec. 2 on WQED.

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WTAE’s “Project Bundle-Up Telethon” is back as a one-hour special at 7 p.m. Dec. 6. Mike Harvey returns as Bundle-Up chairman with Michelle Wright and Janelle Hall as co-hosts.

WTAE also offers several syndicated holiday programs: “Taste of the Holidays” (3 p.m. Nov. 24), “Traveling the World with Denella Ri’chard Holiday 2024 Special” (4 p.m. Nov. 24). “Mark Milovats’ Christmas Wonderland” (5 p.m. Nov. 24), “America’s Thanksgiving Parade” (10 a.m. Nov. 28), “America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration” (3:30 p.m. Dec. 1), “The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival” (5 p.m. Dec. 1), “Happy Holidays America” (3 p.m. Dec. 8) and “Christmas Across America” (5 p.m. Dec. 8).

KDKA will air the “71st Annual Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund Telethon” (7-8 p.m. Dec. 19).

Viewers take note: A CBS December mainstay, “The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors,” will air before Christmas (8:30 p.m. Dec. 22) instead of in its usual spot the week between Christmas and New Year’s.