Local TV Stations Gear Up for May Sweeps Ratings Period

Local TV stations in Pittsburgh are gearing up for the May sweeps ratings period, with new WTAE-TV news director Baylor Long leading the charge. While sweeps may not hold the same significance as it once did, stations are still aiming to air special reports during this period.

Long, who previously served as WTAE’s assistant news director from 2017-21, is familiar with the competitive landscape in Pittsburgh, with KDKA-TV and WPXI-TV also vying for viewers. Despite the competition, Long’s focus is on supporting Channel 4’s journalists and delivering a consistent product to viewers.

In addition to the May sweeps, Very Local’s free streaming channel will debut a Pittsburgh-set episode of “Sports Town Stories,” profiling local athletes such as Sidnie Shirey, the University of Pittsburgh basketball players, open water swimmer Darren Miller, and Penn-Trafford High School field hockey player Ava Hershberger. The episode will be narrated by WTAE-TV’s Ryan Recker.

Meanwhile, Carnegie Mellon University grads Dan Braido and Audley Wilson will pitch their company, RoboBurger, to the Sharks on “Shark Tank.” RoboBurger is a burger vending machine that cooks and prepares a burger in four minutes.

On the entertainment front, Netflix’s latest comic book adaptation, “Dead Boy Detectives,” is now streaming. The show, based on the Neil Gaiman comic book, follows two teenage ghosts who solve mysteries with the help of a psychic.

As the TV landscape continues to evolve, Pittsburgh viewers can expect a mix of news, sports, and entertainment programming to keep them engaged. Stay tuned for more updates on the local TV scene.