Two Quick Items

And after this, coming later today, a rundown on the digital TV transition and what local stations are doing in Northeast Ohio.

Two short items, though...

BERNARD'S PROBLEMS: Inside Radio reports that Bernard Radio, owners of three Youngstown market radio stations (WASN/1500, WGFT/1330 and WRBP/101.9), and two Columbus market stations (WVKO/1580 and WVKO-FM/103.1), could be on the block.

After battling with former partners in the D.B. Zwirn "Special Opportunities Fund", the parent of Bernard Radio, Inside Radio reports that Daniel Zwirn is telling them that he's going to sell off assets. Zwirn's fund loaned money to the Ohio stations' former owners, Stop 26 Riverbend Productions, and took over operation of the five stations under the Bernard Radio banner after Stop 26 was forced into bankruptcy court. Bernard has also owned stations in the Dallas-Ft. Worth radio market, but those are already being sold.

It's another chapter for stations that have already been through a lot. We're wondering - is this where Beacon Broadcasting's Harold Glunt steps in, at least in Youngstown? We know Mr. Glunt (WANR/1570, WLOA/1470, along with WEXC/107.1 and WGRP/940 Greenville PA) was kicking the tires on the three stations now owned by Bernard Radio in that market... before the company decided to operate them.

Bernard's WVKO(AM) is being run in an LMA by Gary Richards and "Cowtown Communications, LLC"...

"THE WORD" LOSING YOUNGSTOWN MARKET SISTER STATION: AllAccess reports that Salem Communications has agreed to sell Christian talk/teaching WHKZ/1440 Warren to Pentecostal Temple Development Corporation for a reported price of $550,000.

WHKZ, the long-ago locally-run WRRO, has mostly been operated as a simulcast of Cleveland Christian talker WHKW/1220 "The Word".

WHKZ has sold time to religious broadcasters in the Youngstown/Warren market, and also runs Salem syndicated conservative talker Hugh Hewitt - Hewitt is a native of Warren...