TV Q&A: Is SportsNet Pittsburgh airing more local collegiate games?

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: I’m writing this email watching RIT vs. Mercyhurst on SportsNet Pittsburgh. I saw news about SNP airing Robert Morris University games, but is this part of some wider agreement to cover local(ish) D1 college hockey? I hope so!

— Alec, Greensburg

Rob: RMU announced SNP will broadcast men’s hockey games at 1 p.m. Nov. 25 (vs. Sacred Heart), 7 p.m. Dec. 7 (vs. Niagara), 5 p.m. Dec. 17 (vs. Arizona State), 6 p.m. Jan. 20 (vs. RIT) and 5 p.m. Feb. 17 (vs. Canisius) and a women’s game at 2 p.m. Jan. 20 (vs. Mercyhurst).

Duquesne men’s basketball games will air on SNP at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 (vs. UC Irvine), 7 p.m. Jan. 3 (at Massachusetts), 7 p.m. Jan. 16 (vs. Richmond), 7 p.m. Jan. 31 (vs. Chicago State), 7 p.m. Feb. 28 (vs. La Salle), 7 p.m. March 9 (vs. George Washington) and women’s games at 2 p.m. Dec. 3 (vs. Delaware), 6 p.m. Dec. 5 (vs. Fordham), 6 p.m. Jan. 17 (vs. St. Bonaventure), 6 p.m. Jan. 24 (vs. Richmond), 2 p.m. Jan. 28 (vs. Loyola Chicago), 2 p.m. Feb. 3 (vs. Rhode Island), 12 p.m. Feb. 7 (at Massachusetts), 2 p.m. Feb. 10 (vs. La Salle), 11 a.m. Feb. 21 (vs. George Washington) and 2 p.m. March 2 (vs. Saint Joseph’s).

In addition, the “Duquesne Basketball Coach’s Show” will air on SNP at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Dec. 26, Jan. 9, Jan. 30, Feb. 6, Feb. 27, March 5 and March 12.

Among non-local colleges, SNP will also air 13 men’s Colorado College hockey games and four total men’s and women’s RIT hockey games from RIT.

The addition of those college games follows SNP naming a studio host (Dan Potash), two studio analysts (Bryan Trottier and Matt Bartkowski), a play-by-play announcer (Josh Getzoff) and a rink-side reporter (Hailey Hunter) for Penguins telecasts.

Q: I like to watch KDKA-TV afternoon and evening news. Why is Ray Petelin not following his usual schedule? He always used to do the 5, 6 and 7:30 news. Now it is hit or miss with Ray. Lately, he will be on at his usual times then the next day he is not on, then the next day he is on. I just wondered why because he is my favorite weatherman.

— Kimerle, Upper St. Clair

Rob: My turn for confusion: Why is anyone watching all those consecutive newscasts? Just because they exist, no one is required to watch them all!

Just like the rest of us, people who work in TV news are entitled to sick days and paid time off, as noted previously. Petelin has worked his normal schedule recently with a few exceptions.

“My daughter’s volleyball season was in full swing, and her games run late,” he said. “I’m glad that KDKA and our awesome weather team realize how important family is. They’re always willing to help so I don’t miss out on important family things.”

Q: Do you know why they are running all of these second chance tournaments on “Jeopardy!?” Are there not enough new contestants?

— Mike, Pittsburgh

Rob: These happened because of the writers’ and actors’ strikes. Because the writers were out, the show was forced to largely recycle old questions. At the time of the season premiere, “Jeopardy!” showrunner Michael Davies said he did not think it would be fair to have new contestants quizzed on recycled questions.

Now that the strikes have settled, fresh questions/contestants will return.