Several years in the making, yesterday marked the official launch of the West Coast broadcasting center for Irondale, Ala.-based EWTN, the Eternal World Television Network. A prayer service, celebration and blessing was held in the Cultural Center at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove.
The network’s first “West Coast” show was recorded in the new studio on the eighth floor of the Tower of Hope on the Christ Cathedral campus. The first guests included Diocese of Orange Bishop Kevin Vann and EWTN Global Catholic Network Chairman and CEO Michael Warsaw. Future programming will include Mass and stories of faith that are interest to the network’s global audience.
“As we transform the Christ Cathedral campus into a dynamic and inspirational center of Catholic worship and outreach, we are blessed to partner with EWTN to share our community’s energy and faithful witness with the world. EWTN’s partnership will profoundly benefit our Church, enabling us to share the love of Christ with millions across the world in multiple languages from the Cathedral campus, here in Orange County,” said Bishop Vann.
Following morning prayers led by the Norbertine monks and comments by those that were integral to the formation of the partnership between the Orange Diocese and EWTN, Bishop Vann blessed the television control room, located in the basement of the Cultural Center, and then the TV studio in the Tower of Hope.
“Today’s dedication and launch of EWTN’s West Coast studio marks a significant moment in the history of the Network,” said Michael Warsaw. “Our collaboration with the Diocese of Orange will enable EWTN to produce exciting new programming that will bring the people and the stories of faith that make up the Church in Southern California to our global audience. We are also pleased to develop this studio in advance of the historic renovation of the Christ Cathedral itself. We will be well positioned and prepared to share news of this closely watched transformation with our viewers.”
EWTN is the largest religious broadcast network in the world and transmits programming in multiple languages to 240 million viewers in more than 140 countries. Locally it is available through several cable and satellite providers including Time Warner. It has several other studios in Washington D.C., Rome and Germany.