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http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/08/04/20050804-C9-02.html
Catholic radio goes on air at Marysville station
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Dennis M . Mahoney
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Chris Gabrelcik and his partners are finally realizing their dream of bringing Roman Catholic radio to central Ohio and beyond.
This week, WUCO (1270 AM) in Marysville shed its countryand-western format for 24-houra-day Catholic programming under its new owner, St. Gabriel Radio.
It is the first all-Catholic radio in the area, and is the start of what Gabrelcik and his partners hope will be a network of stations covering the 23-county Columbus Diocese.
The group, members of Sacred Heart Church in Cardington, began considering the idea of financing a Catholic radio station six years ago, he said.
"We found ourselves continually trying to explain to people the truth about the Catholic Church or what the Catholic Church teaches," Gabrelcik said. "And we thought really that if there’s this many people that don’t understand, maybe we need to work harder in getting that word out."
After the group looked at a number of stations, WUCO became available at the right price, and St. Gabriel bought it for $250,000. It will operate as a nonprofit station, relying on donations to fund what is expected to be an annual budget of about $100,000.
It will feature programming from the EWTN Radio network, which is available free to stations.
While some programming, such as Ohio State football, will be dropped, WUCO will continue to broadcast local news, weather and public-service announcements and some highschool sports. A few part-time employees were let go, Gabrelcik said, and the station will have two paid workers, one full time and one part time.
WUCO is only part of St. Gabriel’s plan. The group paid $70,000 for a permit to open a station in Lexington (89.5 FM) that would reach Morrow, Knox, Richland and Crawford counties, and Gabrelcik said it should be on the air within two months. By year’s end, the group hopes to have negotiated the purchase of a Columbus FM station, which Gabrelcik would not name.
Beyond that, St. Gabriel is looking to take on stations throughout the diocese. Gabrelcik, a businessman who lives in Mount Gilead, said it is hoped that all 23 counties will have Catholic radio available by the end of 2006.
St. Gabriel aims to raise about $2 million from Catholic community leaders to pay for its startup costs, he said.
Dean Weber, a retired Cincinnati accountant who has helped St. Gabriel’s efforts, said the number of Catholic radio stations is growing quickly.
Weber helped fund the startup of WNOP (740 AM) Sacred Heart Radio in Cincinnati five years ago, and later through his company, Catholic Radio Midwest, helped get a Canton station on the air.
Ten years ago, there were three 24-hour Catholic stations in the country, he said, and today there are more than 100. In addition to Marysville, Cincinnati and Canton, there is one in Youngstown.
The stations can benefit Catholics as much as others, Weber said.
"Catholics in general need to study their faith. . . . Your faith is either increasing or decreasing each day. And so this gives people an opportunity at their convenience to increase their faith," he said.
Robin Miller, spokeswoman for the diocese, said WUCO doesn’t have an official connection to the diocese, but Gabrelcik has met with Bishop Frederick Campbell.
"Bishop Campbell’s feeling is that Catholic radio is definitely a good thing," she said.
The diocese currently broadcasts a Sunday Mass on WVKO (1580 AM) in Columbus. Gabrelcik has offered air time to the diocese, Miller said.
[email protected]
Catholic radio goes on air at Marysville station
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Dennis M . Mahoney
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Chris Gabrelcik and his partners are finally realizing their dream of bringing Roman Catholic radio to central Ohio and beyond.
This week, WUCO (1270 AM) in Marysville shed its countryand-western format for 24-houra-day Catholic programming under its new owner, St. Gabriel Radio.
It is the first all-Catholic radio in the area, and is the start of what Gabrelcik and his partners hope will be a network of stations covering the 23-county Columbus Diocese.
The group, members of Sacred Heart Church in Cardington, began considering the idea of financing a Catholic radio station six years ago, he said.
"We found ourselves continually trying to explain to people the truth about the Catholic Church or what the Catholic Church teaches," Gabrelcik said. "And we thought really that if there’s this many people that don’t understand, maybe we need to work harder in getting that word out."
After the group looked at a number of stations, WUCO became available at the right price, and St. Gabriel bought it for $250,000. It will operate as a nonprofit station, relying on donations to fund what is expected to be an annual budget of about $100,000.
It will feature programming from the EWTN Radio network, which is available free to stations.
While some programming, such as Ohio State football, will be dropped, WUCO will continue to broadcast local news, weather and public-service announcements and some highschool sports. A few part-time employees were let go, Gabrelcik said, and the station will have two paid workers, one full time and one part time.
WUCO is only part of St. Gabriel’s plan. The group paid $70,000 for a permit to open a station in Lexington (89.5 FM) that would reach Morrow, Knox, Richland and Crawford counties, and Gabrelcik said it should be on the air within two months. By year’s end, the group hopes to have negotiated the purchase of a Columbus FM station, which Gabrelcik would not name.
Beyond that, St. Gabriel is looking to take on stations throughout the diocese. Gabrelcik, a businessman who lives in Mount Gilead, said it is hoped that all 23 counties will have Catholic radio available by the end of 2006.
St. Gabriel aims to raise about $2 million from Catholic community leaders to pay for its startup costs, he said.
Dean Weber, a retired Cincinnati accountant who has helped St. Gabriel’s efforts, said the number of Catholic radio stations is growing quickly.
Weber helped fund the startup of WNOP (740 AM) Sacred Heart Radio in Cincinnati five years ago, and later through his company, Catholic Radio Midwest, helped get a Canton station on the air.
Ten years ago, there were three 24-hour Catholic stations in the country, he said, and today there are more than 100. In addition to Marysville, Cincinnati and Canton, there is one in Youngstown.
The stations can benefit Catholics as much as others, Weber said.
"Catholics in general need to study their faith. . . . Your faith is either increasing or decreasing each day. And so this gives people an opportunity at their convenience to increase their faith," he said.
Robin Miller, spokeswoman for the diocese, said WUCO doesn’t have an official connection to the diocese, but Gabrelcik has met with Bishop Frederick Campbell.
"Bishop Campbell’s feeling is that Catholic radio is definitely a good thing," she said.
The diocese currently broadcasts a Sunday Mass on WVKO (1580 AM) in Columbus. Gabrelcik has offered air time to the diocese, Miller said.
[email protected]