Irondale, AL, June 19, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Irondale, AL (EWTN) - The Denver-based Catholic News Agency (CNA) and its sister organization, ACI Prensa, the world's largest Spanish-language Catholic news organization with headquarters in Lima, Peru have become part of the EWTN Global Catholic Network.
"EWTN has been a partner with both Catholic News Agency and ACI Prensa for many years in creating and distributing Catholic news content, and I am very pleased and excited that these two highly respected news organizations will become a part of the EWTN family of services," said Michael P. Warsaw, the Network's chairman of the board and chief executive officer.
"Since its founding a decade ago, CNA has proven itself to be a valuable source for reporting on important issues of the day that are of interest to Catholics and non-Catholics alike," noted Warsaw. "For its part, ACI Prensa has been the world's leading outlet for Spanish-language Catholic news and reporting. ACI Prensa will be a perfect fit alongside EWTN's other services including our Spanish-language television, radio and web-based services."
Under the terms of the transaction, no cash will be exchanged between the parties. EWTN will assume control of all ongoing activities of the two organizations. Alejandro Bermudez, a member of the Sodality of Christian Life who is currently the executive director of both CNA and ACI Prensa Group will continue to serve in that capacity.
"Among other impressive accomplishments, EWTN is the world's largest distribution outlet for Catholic content. Given that CNA and the ACI Group have become one of the largest generators of Catholic news content in three languages, this union is a synergistic, natural step to take," said Bermudez. "This is truly a 'match made in Heaven.'"
This move is the latest step in EWTN's efforts to expand its news presence in the global Catholic digital and multimedia marketplace. In 2013, the Network launched EWTN News Nightly, a daily news program based in Washington, D.C. covering major news events from a Catholic perspective. In 2011, EWTN acquired The National Catholic Register, the leading Catholic newspaper in the United States. The Network also produces The World Over with Raymond Arroyo, the highly-acclaimed weekly news analysis and in-depth interview program. In addition, its radio and digital media services have also greatly expanded their news dimension in recent years.
EWTN Global Catholic Network provides multimedia services to more than 140 countries and territories. The Network transmits eleven separate television channels in several languages to more than 230 million homes around the world. It also operates multiple radio services including a network of hundreds of AM and FM stations, a SiriusXM satellite radio channel, an iHeart radio channel and a global shortwave radio service. EWTN's main website, www.ewtn.com, is the most visited Catholic website in the US. Its diverse digital and social media platforms rank among the top Catholic outlets in the world.
Catholic News Agency was founded in Denver, Colorado in 2004 and has been one of the fastest growing Catholic news providers in the English speaking world. The organization maintains new bureaus and reporters around the world, including Washington, D.C. and Rome. CNA content is made available free of charge through its own website, www.catholicnewsagency.com, and through other websites and outlets including www.ewtnnews.com. CNA also provides an editor's service to Catholic publications, dioceses and parishes.
ACI Prensa was founded in Lima, Peru in 1980 by the German missionary, Fr. Adalbert Marie Mohm. It was his desire to provide a steady flow of Catholic news to secular media outlets and end-users throughout the Spanish-speaking world. Today ACI Prensa is the largest and most visited web provider of Catholic news in Spanish through www.aciprensa.com and www.ewtnnoticias.com. The organization also operates a Portuguese language service in Brazil, ACI Digital, available at www.acidigital.com.
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