Catholic radio stations seek expansion thanks to increased listenership

Catholic radio has enjoyed an increase in listeners as people take to the airwaves for a place of spiritual refuge while other religious services remain less available during COVID-19.

As the Station of the Cross in Massachusetts celebrates its ten year anniversary covering the Boston area, reaching about 5 million people, it is looking to expand to reach at least 70 to 80 percent of the entire state, Boston Herald reported.

An affiliate of Eternal Word Television Network, the station is looking to buy another radio outlet in Massachusetts, said Louis Murray, chairman of the board for the radio station.

The station, WQOM, has aired Masses, recitation of the Rosary, and talks from popular Catholic speakers like Mother Miriam and Rev. Robert McTeigue during a time when people have been in need of spiritual recourse.

“With the election-year turmoil and pandemic isolation, more and more people are looking for alternatives to traditional talk shows,” said Murray. “COVID-19 has caused so much isolation and worry, some people are afraid to go to Mass and receive the sacraments. Our station has provided spiritual sustenance for those people who are isolated and lonely.”

In California, a Catholic radio station in the Imperial Valley purchased an AM radio station that expands its reach into the San Diego area.

In November, JP2 Catholic Radio, which is on 95.7 FM in El Centro and 93.3 FM in Brawley, acquired KFSD-AM 1450, based in Escondido. The acquisition allows the station to serve mid and north San Diego County. The purchase brings a mixture of local and syndicated programming from the EWTN, Ave Maria and Relevant Radio Catholic Networks carried on the Imperial Valley based JP2 Catholic Radio network, according to the press release.

Raul Caro, co-founder of JP2 Catholic Radio said through this expansion, he hopes to give back to the San Diego community for all the help they extended to the Imperial Valley over the years. “This acquisition of KFSD-AM 1450 provides Catholics of the San Diego area with engaging and transformative radio centered on Christ and the local community, to create an economy of scale to fund the production of even more local programming and community-building events,” Caro explained.

“I want to offer a local media platform that not only is engaging to the local Catholic Christian community but to the San Diego community as a whole, providing them with an appealing alternative to the secular media,” he added.