TV Q&A: Where’s a WTAE-TV traffic reporter been?

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 idea what happened to Sam Hall on the WTAE morning news? It seems like he was maybe replaced by Elena LaQuatra which is sad, because Sam seemed to bring some levity to the newscast. A buddy of mine said he now flies the WTAE news chopper, but that seems a little far-fetched to me.

– Brian, Cranberry Township

Rob: Every now and then I get these Sam Hall questions, which are always in the same general realm (where’d he go?) which makes me think, did something change? And then Hall good-naturedly reminds me that he has always been and continues to be the reporter in the chopper. Viewers get confused, I think, because sometimes he will fill in for traffic reporter Elena LaQuatra in the studio.

“All remains the same for me,” Hall said. “My levity is just delivered from SKY 4, which now has a fabulous in-cabin camera. And I am not the pilot. That would be bad news for everyone involved.”

Q: What is WPXI doing with “Steals for Local Deals?” Are they getting paid for airing it? I don’t want QVC in my news.

– Bob, Wilkins

Rob: Yes, WPXI is getting paid. It’s yet another way for TV stations to bring in revenue, tacky though it may be. Channel 11 general manager Kevin Hayes did not respond to a request for comment on Bob’s questions.

Q: If you get any info on why CBS canceled the “Magnum P.I.” reboot, I’d love to hear it. I seriously enjoyed that show.

– Brian, via email

Rob: It’s always about the bottom line. When a show makes enough money, it gets renewed. When it doesn’t make enough money and a network thinks it can make more money with another show in its place, then the first show gets canceled.

While “Magnum” was a good procedural fit for CBS, the network did not own the show. “Magnum” is owned by Universal TV (a Comcast-NBC company) and reports suggest CBS was unwilling to pay Universal the licensing fee Universal wanted.

Q: Any idea where ABC’s Rob Marciano has been? I know everyone takes a vacation, but it’s been a few weeks. Also, has a permanent replacement been named for Dan Harris?

– Diane via email

Rob: I’m told Marciano has been a regular fixture of late on “ABC World News Tonight.”

Harris departed “Good Morning America Weekend” and ABC News to spend more time working on his meditation company, Ten Percent Happier. ABC News has not yet named Harris’ replacement.

Q: When the President comes on the air and interrupts regular programming, and the program returns, it is already in progress. Why can’t the networks simply stop the show and pick up where they left off? Considering how many times a sports program runs over its time and delays the rest of the schedule, it’s no big deal, although I suppose those who have their recorders set for a particular program would be affected.

– Dan, New Castle

Rob: Dan’s correct that networks could treat a presidential address like a sporting event that runs long but they choose not to do so. My sense is this is partially because they don’t want to throw off the schedule in an unexpected fashion.

With sports, networks and their affiliates generally know there is the possibility/likelihood of a delay, so there are contingency plans in place. A last-minute change like a presidential address or other network special report isn’t pre-planned and with so many automated systems in place that would have to be adjusted, they probably view these last-minute changes as not worth throwing off the whole night’s schedule. (Remember: Advertisers are the customers, not viewers; viewers are just the eyeballs being delivered to advertisers.)