Catholic Radio station will launch in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Immaculate Heart Radio announced May 7, that it has signed a contract to purchase 50,000 watt KPCW AM 1010 from Community Wireless of Park City, Inc. The station is licensed to Tooele, but the towers are located closer to Salt Lake city and the signal reaches most of the population of Utah from that location.

"We are very excited to serve the Church in this way by bringing the best Catholic programming from around the country and around the world to Utah," said Immaculate Heart Radio President Doug Sherman. "The transaction will close in August, and our broadcasts will begin at that time.

"Soon after that we will begin local programming, including The Bishop’s Hour, which will highlight the great work of the Church and laity in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, and give the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, an opportunity to use the radio to reach his flock."

Bishop Wester expressed his appreciation to Immaculate Heart Radio, Sherman, and his associates, for their investment on behalf of the Catholics of Utah.

"We will pray that this endeavor will be a source of grace for the diocese and a tool for promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Immaculate Heart Radio was founded in 1997 with its first station, KIHM in Reno, Nev., and has since grown to include 21 broadcast facilities across California and New Mexico. KSFB AM 1260 in San Francisco is IHR’s largest station in terms of population, followed by KSMH AM 1620 in Sacramento.

IHR’s programming is primarily focused on evangelization and catechesis, but devotional hours including the rosary and Mass, and Catholic news from around the world are also key elements in the broadcast day. Programs that focus on youth and young adults, as well as family and marriage counseling are also very popular.

"In the past 12 years, we have been amazed by hearing from thousands of our listeners who say that Immaculate Heart Radio’s programming has brought them closer to God, deeper into their faith, back to the Church and the Sacraments, or into the Church for the first time," said Sherman. "We have heard from people who have told us that it has saved or strengthened their marriage, saved their baby, or even saved their life. There are several people in seminaries and convents who say they found their vocation through hearing the Catholic faith broadcast on the air through Immaculate Heart Radio. It is those stories which motivate our staff and supporters to expand into new areas such as Utah."

More information is available by calling 866-774-3278 or www.ihradio.org. We currently operate 21 stations, including 11 translators. Each Immaculate Heart Radio station broadcasts authentic Catholic programming 24 hours a day.