No one can accuse WTAE-TV, a local ABC affiliate, of playing a ratings game. With the game of the day, if not the season, -- No. 5 Texas vs. No. 1 Oklahoma -- airing on ABC at noon Saturday, WTAE showed the mostly unimportant Big East Conference matchup between Rutgers and Cincinnati.

Texas-Oklahoma lived up to its billing, with the Longhorns rallying from an 11-point deficit to win, 45-35, and with that victory vault to No. 1 in the rankings. Rutgers-Cincinnati, two unranked teams, lived up to its billing. It was a snoozer, with Cincinnati winning, 13-10.

The decision to keep Texas-Oklahoma unavailable in the Pittsburgh market left football fans angry, but WTAE general manager Rick Henry said the station had no choice.

"We are Pittsburgh's Pitt football station," Henry said. "In order to carry Pitt football, I am under contract to carry Big East football. By contract, the Big East trumps ABC."

WTAE did switch to the final minutes of Texas-Oklahoma after the Rutgers-Cincinnati game finished.

Local media speculation that FSN Pittsburgh anchor-reporter Rob King was a candidate for the vacant Pirates play-by-play job was news to King.

"I've done all kinds of play by play in my career," King said, "but never an inning of baseball."

King, though, would be a good choice. He's distinguished himself in the region with his work, has a strong following and is knowledgeable about Pirates baseball.

"I'm flattered that I'm being talked about," King said, "but I have not formally applied for the job."

He indicated he would be willing to listen if the Pirates were interested.

Another candidate is Jason Dambach, the long-time play-by-play announcer of the Altoona Curve.

Mark Madden returned to radio yesterday on WXDX-FM (105.9) with a show that will be heard week days from 3-6 p.m. Madden had been off the air since being taken off the radio at 1250 ESPN in late May.

According to a statement released by WXDX, the show will be a mix of sports talk, pop culture and music. The show will be extended on most week-day nights to coincide with the start of the Penguins pregame show.

FSN Pittsburgh has increased the number of Penguins games it will carry in high definition this season to 64. The station previously had announced 47 games in HD. The new figure represents almost double the number of games carried in HD last season.

Verizon, which provides cable coverage in some suburban areas, had hoped to have its FSN HD channel up and running last week but that did not happen. It is expected to be launched soon, as channel 576.

Verizon spokesman Harry Mitchell said they would not set a date but said, "It's imminent."