Plans for a new radio station that would offer news and talk programming aimed at the African-American audience have experienced a setback.

Veteran broadcaster Eddie Edwards Sr. is withdrawing his application to purchase WPYT-AM (660).

Mr. Edwards was recently hospitalized and is under a physician's care, according to a statement from his son, Eddie Edwards Jr., an attorney with Burns, White & Hickton.

Mr. Edwards announced last month that he planned to buy WPYT and create a talk format designed to fill the gap left by the former WAMO-AM, whose new owners plan to convert it to Catholic programming.

He also hoped to buy an FM station to provide music programming. WPYT's current owner -- Langer Broadcasting of Framingham, Mass. -- had agreed to sell the station license to Edwards Broadcasting for $500,000. The deal was pending approval by the Federal Communications Commission.

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