Pat Robertson mulls buying Virginian-Pilot

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. televangelist Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, is considering making a bid for The Virginian-Pilot.

Landmark Communications Inc., a Norfolk, Va., company that owns the newspaper, The Weather Channel and other print and online publications, announced last week that it was considering putting its assets up for sale. The company put a $5 billion price tag on everything.

G.G. Conklin, Robertson's personal assistant, forwarded an e-mail from the evangelist to the Pilot.

"Although the price for The Weather Channel is a little rich for my blood, I am considering a potential bid for the Pilot and have asked my attorneys to look into it," he said. "It would be particularly helpful to provide internships for Regent University journalism students."

Robertson founded Regent in Virginia Beach and serves as its president. In 1997, he sold International Family Entertainment Inc., which operates the Family Channel, to Fox Kids for $1.9 billion.