TV Q&A: Why do TV stations pay for bragging rights?

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: Channel 4 recently began promoting that they are the “WeatheRate Certified Most Accurate” weather forecast in Pittsburgh. Why would a station pay a company for bragging rights that they are the most accurate? They have the WeatheRate logo on every weather map during the weather segments and it’s kind of cringey in my opinion. Why not strive to just be the most accurate without shoving it in viewers’ faces? It’s almost as bad as when they say a story is “only on 4” or is an “EXCLUSIVE,” as if the average viewer cares. If they just produced the best product, people would continue to watch.

— Tyler, Penn Hills

Rob: If one does not toot his or her own horn, no one will do it for them. It makes all the sense in the world that TV stations will brag – about ratings, about an anchor team’s longevity, about having more natives on staff, about severely hazardous you-will-die-if-you-don’t-watch weather coverage — even though it can be grating and obnoxious because marketing and publicity do indeed help to shape perceptions. It would be ideal if just doing a good job was its own reward but that is not the way the world works.

This latest gimmick, WeatheRate, has been around since 2003, and is currently used in dozens of TV markets. The company is independent from forecasting companies and TV stations. WeatheRate verifies the accuracy of TV station forecasts independently using weather data and then the company tries to sell the station that fares best in a given market on licensing the WeatheRate seal of approval — which WTAE-TV then affixes to forecasts by its meteorologists — for a one-year period until a new verification for the market is reached.

Q: I would like to respond to Dan of Pittsburgh’s comments on “Stacy Smith’s three-day consecration.”

As far as I’m concerned, Stacy was a well-rounded, intelligent and down-to-earth individual. I felt that way about Stacy even before the following unfolded: My cousin’s boys were riding ATVs in Somerset County and had a terrible accident.

One boy was not injured but the other one lost his leg over the ordeal. My father called KDKA-TV and spoke with Stacy, knowing he suffered from polio as a child. I do not know what conversation they had, but while visiting my cousin’s son at Children’s Hospital, my cousin’s son got a phone call from Stacy and an encouraging choice of words, I’m sure.

That was the most noble act I had ever experienced from a local celebrity. I always wanted to thank Stacy for taking time out of his schedule to talk to my cousin’s son. Thank you, Stacy. I hope you enjoy your retirement and all the accolades that should go with it.

— Jim, North Huntingdon

Rob: Stacy’s always struck me as a reliable, responsible good guy so this does not surprise me. Thanks for sharing.

Q: I thought the fourth and final season of “Claws” on TNT was to begin on June 6, 2021? I have not seen anything stating there would be a change.

— Norman, Scott Township

Rob: Nope, TNT never set a date for the final season of “Claws” to return. Given that most summer premiere dates have already been announced my sense is “Claws” won’t be back until later this year.

On a teleconference with reporters in May, I asked TNT general manager Brett Weitz about “Claws” and he said scheduling for the show’s fourth and final season was still being worked out.

“The ‘Claws’ ending is as fulfilling of an ending of a series as you can watch,” Weitz said