Mann’s church buys Ohio station

From the Tribune-Review‘s gossip column, “Whispers,” we learn that Pittsburgh’s Pentecostal Temple Development Corp. has purchased Salem Communications’ WHKZ (1440), licensed to Warren, Ohio, for $550,000.

The development corporation is a venture of Pentecostal Temple Church in the city’s East Liberty neighborhood. The church was founded by the Rev. Loran Mann, former WPXI-TV (11) anchor and reporter, and also owns New Kensington-based WGBN (1150). The station airs a gospel format.

Much of WHKZ’s schedule consists of a simulcast of religious programming from Salem’s WHKW (1220) in Cleveland; presumably that simulcast will end once the sale closes.

WHKZ has been a religious station since 2001 when it was purchased by Salem, which also owns Pittsburgh’s WPIT (730) and WORD-FM (101.5). It broadcasts at 5,000 watts directional from two towers during the day and six towers at night.