Tidbits

SPORTS RUNS IN THE FAMILY – Beginning August 31, Jack Hillgrove – grandson of veteran WTAE sports anchor Bill Hillgrove – will host “UPMC Pittsburgh Sports Tonight” on the area’s Sinclair Broadcast Group stations: WPGH-TV (53), WTOV-TV (9 Steubenville) and WJAC-TV (6 Johnstown). The program will feature regional sports reports at all levels from each station’s coverage area. Hillgrove will be joined by Destiny Sanchez and Ashley Wenskoski. (WPGH)

SALEM EXPECTS TO CLOSE DEAL THIS MONTH – Salem Media, which in Pittsburgh owns WORD-FM (101.5), WPIT (730) and WPGP (1250), expects its transaction with WaterStone to close before the end of August now that Salem shareholders have approved the company going private in a $1-per-share sale. Finalization of the transaction remains subject to regulatory clearance. (Radio Ink)

PITTSBURGHERS DON’T LIKE CHANGE – Since KDKA-TV debuted its new “green screen bathtub” studio, many viewers seem to agree that it’s “over the top,” which is a nice way of saying they aren’t impressed. Of course, Pittsburghers should take into account that this was not a local decision, as KD is the 13th of CBS/Paramount/Skydance’s 28 television stations to make the switch. The studio was recently debuted by the weather department with the meteorologists controlling the graphics from a tablet device. Some viewers have mentioned getting “sea sick” from watching the motion involved. Now it appears the news anchors are using the AR/VR technology at the top of the newscast but back at the anchor desk with what appears to be a virtual copy of the recently-struck backdrop for the remainder of the report. The station’s two talk shows – Pittsburgh Today Live and Talk Pittsburgh – appear to be back in studio too. It may be over the top for some, but we also know people in Pittsburgh don’t really embrace change.