EWTN Shuts Down Alabama Shortwave Station WEWN
The Catholic network ended shortwave broadcasting from its Vandiver Mountain site after 34 years, citing rising costs and aging equipment.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Catholicism
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EWTN shut down its shortwave station WEWN on October 31, ending 34 years of broadcasting from a transmitter site on Vandiver Mountain in Shelby County, Alabama. The station, EWTN's first radio service, was licensed to Vandiver and launched on December 28, 1992.
Why it matters
Operating costs at WEWN were high relative to the declining number of shortwave listeners, and the aging facility needed significant, expensive repairs. For Alabama listeners who relied on shortwave, the closure removes one of the few independent U.S. shortwave outlets still on the air.
WEWN broadcast on 12050 kHz and 15610 kHz at 250 kW ERP using four Continental 420C transmitters rated at 500 kW each. The station was one of 12 independent U.S. shortwave stations still on the air when it closed after 34 years.
The players
EWTN
The Eternal Word Television Network is a Catholic media network founded by Mother Angelica that syndicates radio programming to roughly 600 AM and FM affiliates worldwide.
Mother Angelica
The founder of EWTN, a Franciscan nun who built the network into one of the largest Catholic media organizations in the world.
The details
EWTN cited high operating costs relative to declining shortwave listenership and the need for significant, expensive repairs to the aging facility, which it said would not be prudent stewardship of resources. The network's Vandiver Mountain transmitter site had been operating on a reduced schedule before the final shutdown.
Timeline
December 28, 1992: WEWN launches as EWTN's first radio service.
1991: Mother Angelica decides on the mountain to erect the shortwave antennas.
August 13, 2026: Friars make their annual visit to the WEWN transmitter site.
October 31, 2026: WEWN shuts down after 34 years on the air.
Culture Shift
WEWN's closure fits a broader decline in U.S. shortwave broadcasting, where only 12 independent stations remained on the air as listeners moved to digital and satellite audio. The shutdown is a sign of how religious media is adapting its distribution toward affiliates and online platforms.
Alabama listeners who depended on WEWN's shortwave signal will need to find EWTN programming through its affiliate stations or other audio options. The closure removes one shortwave option from the state's Catholic audience.
The takeaway
Listeners who used shortwave to hear EWTN should check its affiliate network for local FM or AM carriage of the same programming. Catholic media in Alabama continues to reach audiences through these affiliate and online channels.
Further reading
For more on the faith side of this shift, explore Catholicism coverage across Alabama.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Radio World.
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