Irondale, AL, May 12, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network this week welcomes "AM 1260 The Rock" in Cleveland, Ohio, to its family of 410 radio affiliates currently broadcasting "the Good News of Jesus Christ" around the world. The Cleveland station, which launched on Monday, May 11, becomes EWTN Radio's 300th affiliate in the United States. " The Rock," owned by nonprofit St. Peter The Rock Media, adds another 2.4 million potential listeners to EWTN Radio's global audience. "AM 1260 The Rock" broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
St. Peter The Rock Media acquired the former WWMK AM 1260 in Cleveland on Monday, May 4, from Radio Disney Group, LLC. The station's new call letters are WCCR ("Cleveland Catholic Radio").
"We are grateful to all the folks at St. Peter The Rock Media who have worked so hard to make this station a reality! EWTN Radio is the beneficiary of incredible partnerships like this all over the U.S. and around the world," said EWTN Radio General Manager Dave Vacheresse. "These partnerships, combined with the cooperation and blessing of bishops across the U.S., has led to a growth rate of nearly 250% in the last 5 years - from 120 stations to over 400 and growing!"
The station has the strong support of Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon. "We are truly blessed to have a lay apostolate, St. Peter The Rock Media, working within our Diocese to bring Catholic Radio to Cleveland," said Bishop Lennon. "This station will provide a strong radio signal for those living and working in Cleveland. I feel blessed to endorse this effort and I encourage you to support it - spiritually and financially."
At St. Peter The Rock Media, Cleveland attorney Gerald (Jerry) Monroe serves as President of a Board of Directors that also includes retired NASA scientist Leo Burkardt; long-time Cleveland broadcaster Dick Russ; EWTN Director of Marketing Tom Wenzel, whose responsibility includes all of the Cleveland area; and William (Bill) Messerly, Executive Director of St. Gabriel Radio, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio.
"We are grateful to our Lord for letting us extend the reach of the Gospel and amplify the voice of His Church in this unique way," said Board President Jerry Monroe. "Like all of our partners in the Catholic radio apostolate, we know 'AM 1260 The Rock' will nourish and educate the faithful, call non-practicing Catholics back into contact with Jesus through the seven Sacraments he instituted, and draw many new souls joyfully into the Church he founded for them."
Parts of the Greater Cleveland area are also served during daylight hours by long-time EWTN radio affiliate Living Bread Radio, WILB AM 1060, in Canton, Ohio.
For further information, please contact Dick Russ at 440-897-1773, DRuss@AM1260TheRock.com. "AM 1260 The Rock's" offices are located at 145 Ken Mar Industrial Parkway, Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147.
EWTN Global Catholic Radio Networks broadcast in English and Spanish around the clock and around the world. The domestic and international family of AM and FM radio affiliates number over 410 total stations. EWTN Radio can also be heard via Shortwave Radio and Internet stream, SiriusXM Satellite Radio (Channel #130 - U.S. & Canada), and numerous digital streaming app options including the EWTN Network App, iHeartRadio, iTunes Radio, TuneIn Radio, Roku, Amazon Fire and Sky Satellite (guide #897 - U.K & Ireland).
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