Tuning the high-frequency bands has always been more than a hobby for the DXers. It is a soulful journey across static, atmospheric fading, and distant continents. There is a profound comfort in hearing a familiar voice rise out of the background noise. However, the global shortwave landscape faces another emotional milestone. Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) has officially announced the end of its iconic shortwave service, WEWN, closing a vibrant chapter that spanned over three decades of international broadcasting. With a broken heart, we have to say, “Goodbye SW, Goodbye EWTN radio.”

The Birth and Heritage of EWTN

Mother Angelica founded EWTN in 1981. She was a Franciscan nun who began broadcasting from a converted garage in Irondale, Alabama. From those modest beginnings, the network grew into one of the world’s largest religious media organizations.

Mother Angelica’s mission was to use modern media to share hope, faith, and spiritual guidance. What began as a television ministry expanded into radio, publishing, and digital platforms.

Launching WEWN: A Milestone in EWTN Shortwave History

EWTN launched WEWN on December 28, 1992. Based in Vandiver, Alabama, the station became EWTN’s first dedicated shortwave radio service, preceding the network’s wider terrestrial AM/FM affiliate network.

A $26 million donation from Dutch philanthropist Piet Derksen and his wife, Trudy, helped fund the transmitter facility. Equipped with high-powered transmitters and large curtain antennas, WEWN sent its shortwave signal across oceans and became one of the world’s largest privately owned shortwave facilities.

Global Reach

Shortwave signals can cross borders and reach places where internet access and other media are limited. For listeners in remote areas and regions with limited infrastructure, WEWN offered access to religious programming and, in some cases, a connection to the wider world.

Over the decades, WEWN’s broadcasts reached audiences across several regions:

• Latin America: English- and Spanish-language programming served listeners across the region.
• Africa and the Middle East: Signals reached rural and isolated communities, where shortwave could provide access to international programming.
• North America: WEWN was a familiar presence on shortwave radios in its early decades. In 2008, the station scaled back North American-targeted beams to prioritize international audiences.

Milestones on the Airwaves

WEWN became a notable part of U.S. shortwave broadcasting history:

• First Catholic shortwave station: WEWN was the first private, lay-operated Catholic shortwave station to broadcast globally from the United States.
• An independent U.S. broadcaster: It was among a small number of independent, nongovernmental shortwave operations licensed in the country.
• A foundation for wider distribution: WEWN’s success helped support the growth of the EWTN Global Radio Network, which expanded to include more than 600 AM and FM affiliate stations, as well as satellite distribution.

EWTN Fade-Out: Shortwave Shutdown

On October 30, 2026, EWTN’s board of governors announced that WEWN’s shortwave broadcasts would end permanently on October 31, 2026. The shutdown brings 34 years of shortwave service to a close.

EWTN cited declining shortwave listenership and the rising cost of maintaining aging, high-power transmitter infrastructure. The network will continue its mission through online audio, mobile apps, satellite radio, and local AM/FM affiliates. But for shortwave enthusiasts and listeners who relied on a radio and a simple antenna, WEWN’s departure leaves the bands a little quieter.