TV Talk: No movement on WQED’s potential move; Kilmer to morning anchor on WPXI

At Thursday’s WQED board meeting, WQED president Jason Jedlinski addressed the “ongoing and changing situation in D.C.” regarding threats by the Trump administration to cut funding to PBS.

Jedlinski noted the continuing resolution passed earlier this month provided level funding for fiscal year 2027 (the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is funded two years in advance). The second and final installment in funding from the federal government for the current fiscal year is expected to arrive at WQED in April. PBS will launch a “Viewers Like Me” campaign next week, encouraging PBS viewers to share their memories of watching public TV.

Jedlinski said about the threat of cuts, “I’m not counting it in or out, it’s well beyond our control, and I think it validates our strategy to be able to stand independent and on our own two feet.”

“We can’t count forever on ‘Masterpiece’ being the way we make our money because, ultimately, we don’t own it,” Jedlinski continued, noting if PBS wants to solicit donations directly from viewers rather than leaving that direct appeal to member stations — something PBS has not done to date — there’s nothing WQED could do about it. “I’m not afraid of that, it just says that’s why we’re busy doing both, proudly presenting the same programming we always have and giving people more reasons to support our work in the community.”

The next Rick Sebak “Lucky to Live in Pittsburgh” special, a compilation of shorts that premiered on YouTube including visits to a sandstone quarry, a Washington County grain farm and the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank, premieres at 8 p.m. April 10.

Jedlinski said Chris Fennimore and Nancy Polinsky will tape a new cooking show for August pledge, “Around the World in 80 Recipes,” and the station is making a new documentary, “Steel Links,” to air at 8 p.m. June 5, just before the start of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Jedlinski said a New Jersey company, Shore Road Productions, approached WQED with the program offer after it created “A Beautiful Day at Pinehurst” for PBS North Carolina last year, which is why WQED’s in-house producers are not making this one.

“It supplements, not replaces, what our own employees are working on,” Jedlinski said.

He also said the station will brand content created by “non-WQED employees, people sharing things from their communities,” as “Stories from the Burgh Beyond,” a companion to station-produced “Neighbors N’at” shorts.

Following the board meeting, Jedlinski said the station soft-launched a streaming-only iteration of the former Neighborhood digital subchannel, now called The 412, available at https://the412.tv.

Regarding the station’s efforts to improve its signal, Jedlinski said the process that required an Ohio station to sign off, which they have done, has moved forward but he doesn’t expect a decision from the FCC before fall.

As for the prospect of WQED moving out of its longtime Oakland headquarters, which Jedlinski said in early 2024 was likely to happen “sooner than later,” it sounds like that plan is on the backburner.

“I acknowledged that Carnegie Mellon University would like to buy the building and that we’re willing to sell,” Jedlinski said. “That remains true, but there are no active negotiations.”

‘Daniel Tiger’ study

A study from the UCLA Center for Scholars Storytellers found Pittsburgh-based Fred Rogers’ Production’s PBS Kids show “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” impacted teens years later after watching the animated series.

The study found “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” which debuted 12 years ago, had a positive influence, providing young viewers with tools they can use to manage their emotions even in their teen years.

The report found 57% of teens surveyed recalled specific strategies, including deep breathing, for managing emotions, and 21% reported they still use the calming techniques they learned from the show.

The study also found 77% of teens expressed interest in content addressing social-emotional topics, but only 35% reported finding programs that teach these skills.

New morning anchor on WPXI

WPXI didn’t announce a new weekday morning anchor to take the place of Gordon Loesch after his elevation to weekday evenings, but Loesch posted Friday on Facebook that Liz Kilmer, who has been filling in, will be his successor. Kilmer will anchor morning newscasts alongside Jennifer Tomazic.

Channel surfing

Apple TV+ renewed “Severance” for a third season and executive producer Ben Stiller said it won’t be another three-year wait between seasons. … “American Dad” may return to Fox for its 20th season of original episodes as it nears the end of its run on TBS. … Bloomberg reports Apollo Global Management hired asset manager Moelis & Co. to explore a sale of Cox Media Group, which owns Pittsburgh’s WPXI.