TV, radio stations not yet sold

Diversified Communications Inc. of Portland has received some inquiries about the six radio and television stations it put up for sale recently, but a company official said there have been no serious offers.

“We’ve had a lot of nibbles, frankly,” Gary Ritchie, president of the company’s broadcast division, said Monday. “Nothing (substantial) has occurred.”

The stations include WABI-TV (Channel 5), WABI-AM and WYOU-FM, all in Bangor; WYOU-TV in Wilkes-Barre, Penn.; WCTI-TV in Greenville, N.C.; and WPDE-TV in Florence, S.C.

“It’s possible one of these interested parties will make us a serious offer, but I have no way of knowing that,” said Ritchie, who declined further comment.

WABI-AM and WABI-TV are the oldest radio and television stations in Maine. Diversified is a private company owned largely by the heirs of the late Gov. Horace Hildreth.

Last March, Ritchie said, several of the shareholders were of retirement age and wanted to convert some company assets to cash.