– 24-Hour Catholic Radio Network Will Feature Exclusive Participation of His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan
– Contemporary Lifestyle Channel for National Audience
The Archdiocese of New York and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) will create and collaborate on The Catholic Channel. The lifestyle radio channel will air nationally seven days a week, 24 hours a day and will feature contemporary talk, music programming and live daily masses from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
Launching this fall exclusively on SIRIUS, The Catholic Channel will feature a modern format with an open dialogue focused on Catholicism in the 21st Century, especially as it is lived in today’s world. Listeners will be encouraged to call in to talk about the issues that are on their mind and in the news — everything from what’s happening in the Church today, to the headline stories of current events and politics, and the latest in the world of entertainment, the arts and sports. They will interact with hosts who will bring a Catholic perspective to the world around us. Daily program hosts and guests will include members of the clergy and distinguished laity from across the land. Regular and previously unavailable content from The Vatican will also be a part of the channel, including programming from Vatican Radio.
The Catholic Channel programming will also include human interest stories and inspirational themes, shows offering counseling and guidance, educational programs, musical content, and daily Mass from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. A detailed schedule with specific programs and hosts will be announced prior to launch.
A prominent contributor to The Catholic Channel will be His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, who will periodically appear exclusively on the channel.
Cardinal Egan said, "The Catholic Channel represents a splendid opportunity for the Church in the United States. By using this modern medium, we will be able to communicate directly with the Catholic faithful as well as anyone of any religious faith who might be interested in what the Catholic Church is saying and doing here in New York and around the country. SIRIUS Satellite Radio has my sincere thanks for making this channel become a reality."
"This partnership with the Archdiocese is a significant step forward in our development and mission to provide our listeners with the finest and most distinctive Christian programming in radio," said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS. "The talented and diverse personalities who will guide this channel and the special contributions of His Eminence Cardinal Egan will make The Catholic Channel an extraordinary experience for our audience."
It will be interesting to see if the orthodoxy of this new channel is more in line with EWTN (also on Sirius), the Bishop’s failed network, or PWTN.
11 comments
Jeff,
In Chicago, on AM820 there is a Relevant Radio Station, at 9:00am they stop broadcasting and switch over to “Catholic Community of Faith” which is conglomeration of St. Anthony Messenger Press and Archdiocese of Chicago stuff.
Frankly you can tell when it changes.
My issue with Relevant Radio is that it is a bit too soft i.e. Glenn’s story corner makes me turn the dial and the accordion playing makes me switch the dial.
Also Drew’s afternoon show for a bit was turning out to be the Catholic “Art Bell” in some of the things that he was doing.
All these issues aside…. I would rather listen to Relevant Radio than the dribble that the ADC (Archdiocese of Chicago) puts out in its hour on the air each week.
My bet is that the “Middle Managers” in the ADNY (Archdiocese of New York) will get their fingers into it and it will for all purposes be the same watered down stuff that the ADC puts out.
Any word on whehter this will replace EWTN on Sirius Satellite Radio? If so, cancel my subscription! I tend to think John Gibson is right about mid-level beuracrats and watering-down the faith. Besides, we have a decent local Catholic radio station in KC now, I guess we will just pray for them to go full time on FM and soon!
Yeah, this seems kinda silly, since they already have EWTN on Sirius. In fact, that’s the reason I have Sirius! They better not replace it!
I don’t understand why Sirius is adding another Catholic Station. I have Sirius for the sole purpose of getting EWTN, and, if truth be told, Fox Newschannel. I can’t imagine anyone being able to top the Catholic programming of EWTN. My prediction: it will fail miserably.
“Any word on whehter this will replace EWTN on Sirius Satellite Radio?”
I just asked them. I’ll reply here when I get a response…
According to this press release at Sirius, it will be in addition to EWTN, but I am not going to hold my breath for too long.
“The Catholic Channel will join other religious-themed programming on SIRIUS, including EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network // Ch. 160, which features talk shows, news, daily devotions and teaching series, and Christian Talk // Ch. 159, faith-based programming provided by FamilyNet, the broadcast arm of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, which features programs such as Pat Robertson’s “The 700 Club.”
I would urge all Sirius subscribers reading this blog to contact Sirius and make it clear that you want EWTN to stay – specifically EWTN not generic “catholic programming”
Now everyone can share the “joy” that is our Cardinal!
EWTN is a blessing to the Church. But lets allow this new network to try to get its footing before condemning it. Sirius isn’t replacing EWTN. Just giving us more Catholic content. People who complain about that are a bit misguided, I think.
As for why we’d need “another” Catholic channel in this country? That’s like saying our country already has an Adoration Chapel. Why would we need another one? 🙂
We should all thank God that the Church is trying to use modern means of communication. Please give these folks a chance. EWTN isn’t all things to all people. This new channel won’t be either. But perhaps together they can bring people into a closer relationship with Christ in the Catholic Church.
Relevant Radio is coming to NY soon also. At 540AM. I hope I can receive the signal because I don’t want to pay for SIRIUS. I’m not too optimistic about the archdiocese putting together a radio network, but, hey who knows? Cardinal Egan has been the amazing mystery man, so maybe this will make him more visible (or at least audible).
Molly, I am not oppsed to the widespread proliferation of Catholic media (provided it is truly Catholic) but I have seen what the former NCCB/USCC had to offer in that regard (nuns in pants suits and priests in neckties extolling the benefits of condom use – or some such thing) and I am not encouraged. As to fears that Sirius would replace EWTN, that fear is based on other programming decsision they have made recently. While this does not regard Catholic or Christian programming, Fox Talk came in and bumped Sirius Right, effectively purging Laura Ingraham from the Satellite airwaves. Who is to say the minds at Sirius will not take the same approach vis-a-vis Catholic airwaves (“Fox Talk, Sirius Right, what’s the difference?” “Egan, Angelica, What’s the difference? its all Catholic programming! Right?”)
If Sirius wants to ADD “The Catholic Channel” to its lineup which already includes EWTN – fine, let’s see how it pans out. If they decide to replace EWTN with “The Catholic Channel” then I will drop my subscription – I am not much interested in the “catholic” opinions of those who receive a chancery paycheck.
You all are talking about this as though anyone listens to anything other than Sirius Blues.