Pirates and Penguins fans frustrated with Comcast and Verizon moving the teams’ cable TV home, SportsNet Pittsburgh, to often more expensive tiers, take note: The cable channel is now available as a direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service app similar to Netflix or Disney+.

The SportsNet Pittsburgh app, called SNP 360, has a single plan for $18 per month.

SNP 360 is available for direct subscription with the app available on iPhone, Android phone, Apple TV, Fire TV and Google TV. At the outset, it will not be available on Roku but will eventually be available there. SNP 360 will not be in 4K.

A SNP 360 subscription includes the 24/7 live SportsNet Pittsburgh and SportsNet Pittsburgh+ TV channels that can be streamed through desktop computers, mobile devices or connected “smart” TVs.

Viewers who get SNP as part of their cable package will have free access to SNP 360 by authenticating their cable subscription with their participating TV provider login. Comcast, Verizon and Armstrong are participating cable TV providers. But with the direct subscription option, SNP 360 is now also available to cord-cutters who dropped cable/satellite service.

Since Fenway Sports Group, owner of the Penguins, bought SportsNet Pittsburgh from Warner Bros. Discovery last year, it seemed likely that Fenway would launch an OTT option as it already has one for its New England Sports Network. The NESN streamer, called NESN 360 and available in 4K, costs $30 per month or $330 annually.

“We’re thrilled to expand our availability for Pittsburgh sports fans,” said SportsNet Pittsburgh president Sean McGrail in a prepared statement. “Today’s fan needs to be able to access their favorite teams seamlessly, and we’re excited to now offer the option to watch SportsNet Pittsburgh via direct subscription. Our existing cable and satellite subscribers also continue to be able to stream with their TV provider credentials for no extra cost.”

WPXI back on DISH

After almost a year-and-a-half, the parent company of WPXI and DISH Network finally reached a new retransmission agreement over the weekend and Channel 11 is once again available to DISH subscribers.

Cox Media Group, parent of WPXI, did not disclose terms other than it will be at least a few years before they reach an impasse with DISH again, describing the new deal as a “multi-year agreement.”

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Mister Rogers goes Retro

PBS launched a new FAST (free ad-support TV) channel on Roku, PBS Retro, featuring PBS shows from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s including “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” alongside “Kratts’ Creatures,” “Thomas and Friends,” “Zoboomafoo” and “Reading Rainbow.” (Alas, the PBS Kids great “Wishbone” is nowhere to be found.)

But good news for “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” fans: There are 86 episodes of the “Neighborhood” in rotation on PBS Retro, more than what’s made available to PBS stations or on the PBS Kids app, with plans to add additional episodes in the future.

‘Violins of Hope’

The latest original documentary special that WQED-TV will debut without sending a press release — talk about hiding your light under a bushel — “Violins of Hope Greater Pittsburgh: The Documentary” (8 p.m. Thursday) tells the story of instruments once played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. The violins were on display in Pittsburgh last year and were played in concert by local high school students.

It wasn’t that long ago that WQED sent out press releases to try to get attention for every local TV special it produced (as well as national specials with local ties that the station aired). But in recent months the station has seemingly downplayed local TV programming, failing to try to draw press attention to multiple programs, including a WQED-FM anniversary TV show, a mini-doc on local “Broadcast Pioneers,” a national show about a Pittsburgh native human rights actvivist and a national show on reparations that WQED co-produced and was the presenting station for.

Channel surfing

Paramount+ released a new trailer for filmed-in-Pittsburgh “Mayor of Kingstown,” debuting its third season on June 2. … The “Kingstown” cast and crew, including star Jeremy Renner, visited Kennywood over the weekend, per a Facebook post by series star and executive producer Hugh Dillon … Partially Pittsburgh-set “This is Us” will get a rewatch podcast hosted by series stars Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown and Chris Sullivan that launches May 14 under the title “That Was Us.” … The CW will air “Miss Teen USA” (8 p.m. Aug. 1) and “The 73rd Miss USA Pageant” (8 p.m. Aug. 4). … Canadian comedy “Run the Burbs,” which aired on The CW in the U.S., was canceled after three seasons. … Poppy Harlow exited CNN after being taken off its morning show. … CBS canceled “NCIS: Hawai’i” after three seasons. … It’s four seasons away still but host Jeff Probst announced the 50th season of “Survivor” will likely feature a cast of all returning players. … Sonja Christopher, the first player voted out in the first-ever episode of CBS’s “Survivor,” died last week at age 87. … Bob Bakish will step down as Paramount Global CEO as early as today as controlling shareholder Shari Redstone tries to sell the company.

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You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow @RobOwenTV on Threads, X, Bluesky and Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.