Submit your question to Rob Owen.

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This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "The Amazing Race," "Star Trek" reruns and Comcast/Verizon shenanigans. As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

Q: Spike TV runs old episodes of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" at 2 a.m. Can you explain why Comcast users get a home shopping show or infomercial in its place?

I know that Direct TV and Dish Network customers get the unaltered feed, I dont know about Verizon.

Should I complain to Comcast or Spike?

-- Mike, 37, Allison Park

Rob: There have been cases where Comcast has the contracutal right to pre-empt network programming with infomercials, but this was not such a case.

"This was due to a malfunctioning 'switcher,' " explained Comcast spokesman Bob Grove. "That piece of equipment has been repaired and viewers will not see any interruption to the Spike TV signal."

Q: Why does CBS not have "The Amazing Race" online? They seem to have all of their other shows, but not my favorite. "Race" is particularly hard to record since football overruns frequently alter its time slot. Can you ask CBS for me?

-- Justin, 28, Squirrel Hill

Rob: "CBS doesn't have streaming rights to 'The Amazing Race,' which is why they are not posted online," explained a CBS spokesman.

"Race" is produced by Warner Bros., whereas most other CBS shows are produced by CBS, which is why they're available online. I had a similar experience this week: My Comcast DVR failed to record "The Big Bang Theory." I figured I'd get it from Comcast on demand, but it wasn't there and it wasn't on CBS's Web site either. And then I remembered: "Big Bang Theory" is produced by Warner Bros., too.

CORRECTION: I got my studios mixed up. "Amazing Race" is not produced by Warner Bros. It's an ABC Studios show from Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Earthview Inc. But my point remains the same: It's not a CBS-owned show; CBS doesn't own the digital streaming rights.

Q: I noticed the other morning that WTAE has added the new anchor configuration to their morning news opening but I haven't seen the new anchor lineup reflected in other newscast opens. Does this mean more changes could be coming?

-- Corey, 16, Cheswick

Rob: I don't think so.

"Those should be on TV," said WTAE news director Bob Longo. "Perhaps the day the viewer watched they were not played because of time constraints. They should be in place and on air in all newscasts at this point."

Q: Since Newlin Archinal's departure from WPXI, weekend morning anchor Danielle Nottingham has been filling in, and I really enjoy her presentation. My question is, why bring in someone totally new to the market, when you have a perfectly good anchor you could promote from within? I understand that Danielle is newer to the city, but still, this isn't making sense to me.

-- Tyler, 17, Penn Hills

Rob: Station executives hire and promote people for many reasons far more complicated than simply rewarding someone for a job well done. I like Nottingham, too, and actually speculated on my blog that she would be the logical in-house candidate to replace Archinal. Executives decided to go in a different direction.

Q: Comcast no longer makes HBO Hi-Def programming available through its On Demand service. A customer representative told me HBO wanted to charge too much for the feed, but that the situation is under negotiation.

If we are paying (and receiving) HBO HD programming already, how is this possible?

-- Steve, 49, Castle Shannon

Rob: Perhaps there is some saber rattling and negotiations are going on at this point. It's certainly unusual for Comcast to offer something HD and then take it away (usually they're always touting HD additions). I was unable to get further information out of Comcast.

Q: I noticed that additional HD channels were added to the Verizon lineup Tuesday night. However, while a number of channels had been added, I noticed that a fair number (ABC Family, ESPNews, Disney HD) were a blank screen and indicated that I wasn't subscribed.

When I called Verizon, I was first told that existing customers with HD would receive all additional channels automatically. I was then, however, transfered to another individual who said that I had an older subscription and that to get all new HD channels I had to resubscribe for one-year to the HD extreme package (she mentioned it was $5 cheaper). When I asked what would happen if I didn't renew, she said I wouldn't get all of the new channels. Is that a common practice? None of the ads indicated that to get the new channels you had to change subscription levels. What happens next time they add additional services? A requirement for subscription renewals again? --Dale, 41, Mt. Lebanon

Q: In Wednesday's Post-Gazette you reported on the new HD channels being rolled out by Verizon FiOS TV. Unfortunately, they didn't give you the whole story. Those of us who subscribed almost a year ago when FiOS TV was first rolled out at $99.99 specials which locked us into a 2-year commitment have to "upgrade" to the new pricing of $109.99 in order to get these new channels. One thing's for certain: Verizon knows how to operate just like Comcast! -- Jean, 58, Ross

Rob: I do understand how customers might see this as a bait-and-switch situation. Verizon's press release on the new HD channels makes a passing reference to "existing customers who upgrade to a bundled package" but doesn't explicitly state that the company has redone its programming packages, which appears to be the case.

"When Verizon launched FiOS TV last year, we offered only one package, FiOS TV Premier. As Verizon this year rapidly expanded the content available on FiOS TV, we decided to introduce new service tiers to better match the growing amount of programming FiOS TV offers and to give customers another choice," said Verizon spokesman Lee Gierczynski. "Verizon this week replaced FiOS TV Premier with two new service tiers: FiOS TV Essentials, which offers standard-definition programming and local HD channels; and FiOS TV Extreme HD, which includes additional standard-definition programming, all non-premium HD channels, plus the Extreme Sports HD channels (previously a separate package customers could order). Both packages include access to Verizon's extensive On-Demand library with more than 11,000 titles each month -- 70 percent of which are free.

"For existing customers, there is no bait-and-switch here. Existing FiOS TV Premier customers are grandfathered under the current plans they subscribe to, which offers 45 HD channels. Verizon this week announced the availability of new programming for customers (just like when we add new premium content), and customers are free to upgrade if they choose to any new package we offer . In many cases, customers could actually save money if they choose to upgrade. Plus, if they don't already have them, customers who upgrade can get a free month of HBO and Cinemax.

"For example, the old FiOS TV Premier Triple Play package (phone + 10/2 FiOS Internet + FiOS TV) was $104.99 per month. The Extreme Sports HD package previously was $7.99 per month. Customers who subscribed to both paid $112.98.

"Under the new FiOS TV Extreme HD package (phone + 20/5 FiOS Internet + FiOS TV), which is $109.99, customers would double their Internet connectivity speed, get more standard-definition channels, all non-premium HD channels and the Extreme Sports HD channels for $2.99 less per month than they are paying now.

"Customers who previously subscribed to the old FIOS TV Premier package with a faster Internet speed (phone + FiOS Internet 20/5 + FiOS TV) paid $114.99 per month, so if they decide to upgrade to the Extreme HD package, they will see their bills decrease $5 per month while they receive the FiOS TV upgrades as outlined above. It is possible your reader in Mt. Lebanon in this situation since he indicated in his e-mail that the service would be $5 less, but I don't know for sure from the information included in his message.

"Customers who subscribe only to the $104.99 plan and upgrade to the $109.99 plan would see a slight $5 per month increase but would be getting some significant upgrades and content additions for that modest price change.

"Every customer has a different combination of services, so it is a good idea for them to check periodically to see if they can save even more with Verizon.

"Verizon's goal is to keep packages and pricing as simple and affordable as possible for customers, and these new service tiers will allow Verizon to continue to be competitive in the market."

I can understand how getting more means paying for more, but I think Verizon would have been wise to be up-front about that so customers wouldn't get excited about new offerings only to discover they may come with a price tag attached.

"The cat loves playing with mice. The little play mice. He goes after them but I know I'll be getting a real one becase the cat had found a little field mouse and got rambunctious. Yeah, he dropped it at my feet and we both looked at each other and the mouse just froze and the cat and I are looking at each other and the mouse takes off and so there's a mouse somewhere in the wall. ...

"Stop that! Your [unintelligible] is infected. ..." (Laughing)

-- Woman having a conversation with someone in her home, not realizing she was still on the line with my voice mail.