History of EWTN in Timeline

EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) is the largest Catholic television network in America and is considered the world's largest religious media network. It broadcasts Catholic programming 24/7 and reaches an estimated 425 million people across 160 countries through its 11 networks.

1953: Mother Angelica Professed Her Vows

In 1953, Mother Angelica made her profession of vows, marking a significant step in her religious life. The event occurred in 1953.

1962: Mother Angelica Establishes Our Lady of the Angels Monastery

In 1962, Mother Angelica established Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, which would later become the location of the EWTN studios. This was an important moment of her life. This occurred in 1962.

1980: EWTN Founded

In 1980, EWTN was founded by Mother Angelica, PCPA, marking the beginning of the Catholic television network. This was the year that EWTN was founded.

August 15, 1981: EWTN Begins Broadcasting

On August 15, 1981, EWTN commenced broadcasting with four hours of daily programming. The initial schedule included Mother Angelica Live, a Sunday Mass, and reruns of older Catholic programs. Shows from Protestant sources and children's shows were also included. This began on August 15, 1981.

August 1981: EWTN Begins Broadcasting

On August 15, 1981, EWTN began broadcasting from a garage studio at the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Irondale, Alabama, with four hours of daily programming. Mother Angelica's show, a Sunday Mass, and reruns of older Catholic programs were included in the initial broadcast schedule. The initial broadcast was on August 15, 1981.

1981: EWTN's launch and logo incorporation

In 1981, EWTN launched and incorporated a globe outline in its logo to represent the network's hope for worldwide reach, usually with an outline of the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica within a profile of a satellite dish inside of it.

1982: Competition from Catholic Telecommunications Network of America

In 1982, EWTN faced competition from another Catholic broadcaster, the Catholic Telecommunications Network of America. The Catholic Telecommunications Network of America was created in 1982.

1986: EWTN Increases Broadcast Schedule

By 1986, EWTN had increased its broadcast schedule to eight hours per day, expanding its programming and reach. Secular content was gradually reduced. This expansion occurred in 1986.

1987: Daily Rosary Broadcasts Begin

In 1987, EWTN began broadcasting the rosary on a daily basis, adding a regular devotional element to its programming. This was new to the network at the time. The date was 1987.

1987: EWTN Expands Satellite Distribution

Late in 1987, EWTN expanded its satellite distribution, acquiring a more desirable satellite channel and beginning around-the-clock broadcasting. The praying of the rosary became a daily broadcast. The expansion occurred late in 1987.

1988: EWTN Reduces Secular Content

In 1988, EWTN continued to reduce secular content from its programming. This marked a shift towards more religious programming. This occurred in 1988.

1991: Daily Mass Broadcasts Begin

In 1991, EWTN began broadcasting daily Mass, making it a regular part of its programming schedule. The daily Mass broadcasts began in 1991.

1991: Daily Televised Mass Begins

In 1991, EWTN began televising the Mass daily from a chapel on the monastery grounds. This became a regular feature of the network's programming. This occurred in 1991.

October 27, 1992: Mother Angelica on Pro-Life Voting

On October 27, 1992, Mother Angelica stated that people should vote pro-life, but life is everything: the elderly, the born, the unborn, all of us. This was Mother Angelica's personal belief on October 27, 1992.

1992: EWTN Shifts to More Conservative Programming

In 1992, EWTN began producing more of its own programs, shifting to a more conservative orientation. Latin was incorporated into the liturgy of televised Masses. This was a shift in direction in 1992.

1992: EWTN Establishes WEWN Shortwave Radio Station

In 1992, EWTN established WEWN, the largest privately owned shortwave radio station, broadcasting from Vandiver, Alabama. This expanded EWTN's reach through radio. The date was 1992.

1992: Marcus Grodi Converts to Catholic Faith

Marcus Grodi, the host of The Journey Home, converted to the Catholic Faith in 1992. He is a former Presbyterian minister. The conversion took place in 1992.

1993: Mother Angelica Criticizes Mimed Stations of the Cross

In 1993, Mother Angelica harshly criticized a mimed re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross at World Youth Day where a woman played Jesus, denouncing it as "an abomination" and criticizing the "liberal church in America." This was the beginning of her political statements. This event took place in 1993.

1993: Mother Angelica and Nuns Revert to Traditional Habits

On Christmas Eve of 1993, Mother Angelica and the nuns of her order reverted to traditional habits. This was on Christmas Eve of 1993.

1994: Catholic Telecommunications Network of America Fails

In 1994, the Catholic Telecommunications Network of America, a competitor to EWTN, failed after significant investment, ending the competition between the two networks. The failure occurred in 1994.

1995: Sub-branding as Catholic Cable Network until 1995

EWTN operated under the sub-branding "Catholic Cable Network" until 1995, coinciding with the American launch of DirecTV and Dish direct satellite broadcasters, where it was a charter network with both providers.

1996: Sub-branding as Global Catholic Network

In 1996, EWTN changed its sub-branding to "Global Catholic Network" as it began to transition towards satellite broadcasting.

1996: EWTN Makes Radio Signal Available via Satellite

In 1996, Mother Angelica announced that EWTN would make its radio signal available via satellite to AM and FM stations throughout the United States at no cost. This helped expand the radio signal's accessibility. This took place in 1996.

1997: Mother Angelica Criticizes Cardinal Mahony

In 1997, Mother Angelica publicly criticized Cardinal Roger Mahony for his pastoral letter on the Eucharist, which she felt lacked emphasis on transubstantiation. She conditionally apologized later. This controversy was in 1997.

1999: Bishop Foley Prohibits Mass ad orientem

In 1999, Bishop David E. Foley of the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama, issued a decree prohibiting priests from celebrating Mass ad orientem under most circumstances, a move generally seen as targeting EWTN. Bishop Foley issued the decree in 1999.

1999: EWTN Programs Include Mother Angelica Live and Life Is Worth Living

In 1999, EWTN programs included Mother Angelica Live and "Life Is Worth Living" with Fulton J. Sheen. These programs were among those offered during this year. This occurred in 1999.

2000: Apostolic visitation of EWTN

In 2000, Archbishop Roberto González Nieves of San Juan, Puerto Rico, conducted an apostolic visitation of EWTN, focusing on the network's ownership, the monastery's property donation rights, and Mother Angelica's authority, as she had never been elected.

2000: Mother Angelica Gives Control of EWTN to Lay Board

In 2000, amidst an apostolic visitation, Mother Angelica transferred control of EWTN to a board of lay people. This action was done while San Juan Archbishop Roberto González Nieves was investigating Mother Angelica's authority over the station and monastery. This occurred in 2000.

September 2001: Mother Angelica Retires

In September 2001, Mother Angelica retired from hosting her show, Mother Angelica Live, due to health issues. This marked a significant change in the network's programming and her role within it. The retirement occurred in September 2001.

September 2001: Mother Angelica Suffers Stroke and Retires

In September 2001, Mother Angelica suffered a major stroke and other health issues, leading to her retirement from hosting Mother Angelica Live. Repeats of her show continue to air. This happened in September 2001.

2004: EWTN Agreement with Sirius Satellite Radio

In 2004, EWTN announced an agreement with Sirius Satellite Radio, later Sirius XM Satellite Radio, to broadcast on Channel 130. This expanded EWTN's radio presence on satellite radio. The date was 2004.

2007: Francis Mary Stone suspended from EWTN

In 2007, Francis Mary Stone, the host of EWTN's show Life On The Rock, was suspended from the network after violating his vow of celibacy and fathering a child with EWTN employee Christina Presnell. Stone was forced on a leave of absence, and Presnell was fired from EWTN.

December 8, 2009: EWTN Begins Broadcasting in High Definition

On December 8, 2009, EWTN upgraded its broadcasting capabilities by commencing high-definition television broadcasts. This enhancement improved the viewing experience for its audience. The date was December 8, 2009.

May 11, 2010: HD Feed Available to Comcast Customers in Richmond, Virginia

On May 11, 2010, the HD feed of EWTN first became available to Comcast customers in Richmond, Virginia, and its surrounding areas. This marks the availabilty to more areas. This was available on May 11, 2010.

January 2011: EWTN Acquires National Catholic Register

In January 2011, EWTN acquired the National Catholic Register, a newspaper founded in Denver, Colorado, in 1924. This acquisition expanded EWTN's media holdings. The date was January 2011.

February 1, 2011: EWTN Assumes Control of National Catholic Register

On February 1, 2011, EWTN officially assumed total control of the National Catholic Register, completing the acquisition process. EWTN also owns Catholic News Agency. This occurred on February 1, 2011.

October 2011: EWTN Available Through Roku

In October 2011, EWTN became available through the Roku streaming player, providing six live channels in multiple languages and on-demand video options. The launch on Roku was in October 2011.

2011: Michael P. Warsaw Chairman and CEO

As of 2011, Michael P. Warsaw held the position of chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the EWTN network. The date was 2011.

2016: Death of Mother Angelica

Mother Angelica passed away on Easter Sunday of 2016, after leading a cloistered life at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama. The death occurred in 2016.

2017: Cardinal Müller not renewed by Pope Francis

In 2017, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, the former head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was not renewed for another term by Pope Francis.

2018: Francis Mary Stone suspended from religious order

By 2018, Francis Mary Stone, who was suspended from EWTN in 2007, was reported to be suspended from his religious order after violating his vow of celibacy and fathering a child.

2019: EWTN Available on Streaming Platforms

As of 2019, EWTN programming expanded its reach by becoming available through more than 6,000 TV affiliates, as well as on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire and YouTube. This shows the accessibility of the programs. This occurred in 2019.

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2019: EWTN's annual revenue

In 2019, EWTN had an annual revenue of $64,946,744 and received an 84.3 overall score and rating from Charity Navigator.

August 2020: EWTN Radio Affiliations

As of August 2020, EWTN Radio was affiliated with 384 stations in the United States and more than 500 stations globally. This reflects the wide reach of EWTN's radio network. This occurred in August 2020.

December 2020: "Morning Glory" show canceled

In December 2020, EWTN abruptly canceled the "Morning Glory" show without explanation, leading to accusations of racism.

2020: Controversy over 'Morning Glory' show

In the summer of 2020, EWTN's "Morning Glory" show faced criticism due to differing views among its hosts, Gloria Purvis, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, and Msgr Charles Pope, on anti-racist measures following the murder of George Floyd. Purvis defended the measures, while Burke-Sivers and Pope opposed them, creating tension within the show.

March 2021: Pope Francis criticizes EWTN

In March 2021, Pope Francis reportedly told an EWTN reporter that the network should "stop bad-mouthing" him. He also complained about a Catholic television channel speaking ill of him, attributing it to the work of the devil. In response, Archbishop emeritus Charles J. Chaput defended EWTN's faithfulness to the Church.

2021: Gloria Purvis hired for podcast

In 2021, Gloria Purvis, who formerly hosted "Morning Glory" on EWTN, was hired for her own podcast affiliated with America Media after the cancellation of the show.