Catholic Radio Group Apparently Buys WCOJ Page 1 of 4

The Phoenix - Catholic radio group apparently buys WCOJ Page 1 of 4

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OTHER TODAY'S Catholic radio group apparently buys STORIES WCOJ A CELEBRATION OF THE YMCA'S FAMILY By DANIELLE LYNCH and ANDY HACHADORIAN, Journal Register What law enforcement is News Service doing to fight the influx of 10/01/2008 narcotics Email to a friend Post a Comment Printer-friendly Debate at Franklin

WEST CHESTER — Chester Commons County lost a major local Rendell speaks broadcast voice Tuesday with Over 500 attend benefit the apparent sale of WCOJ for Trey 1420 to Holy Spirit Radio GOP frets about Foundation Inc., a Philadelphia-based Catholic McCain's strategy, radio group. prospects Woman faces homicide AllAroundPhilly.com DailyLocal.com Holy Spirit Radio Foundation charges in Montco DelcoTimes.com has entered into an agreement Biden decries PhoenixvilleNews.com with WS2K Media to begin 'unbecoming personal airing Catholic radio on WCOJ 1420 AM. PottsMerc.com attacks' TheReporterOnline.com TimesHerald.com Sources said Tuesday that WCOJ employees were notified of the change in ownership at Judge: Montco will not Trentonian.com a 3 p.m. meeting and that the workers were then let go. The station, sources said, was expand jury pool AllAroundPhillyGolf.com scheduled to "go dark" at midnight Tuesday. NATION AND WORLD AllAroundPhillyHomes.com NEWS IN BRIEF All Publications If finalizing the purchase agreement goes as planned, the air date for the Advertisement OJR board meeting to Partly cloudy 64° http://www.phoenixvillenews.com/site/news.cfm?dept_id=17915&newsid=20144903 10/13/2008 The Phoenix - Catholic radio group apparently buys WCOJ Page 2 of 4

Partly cloudy 64 new Catholic programming will be Oct. 7, the feast of Our Lady of Rosary, 5 Day Forecast said WISP Program Director Patrick McCabe. WCOJ will be added to a Ceremony honors dive mini-network with WISP, he said. unit 19th candidates face off The Catholic radio group, known as Holy Spirit Radio Foundation, operates and owns Monday Jobs WISP 1570 AM in Doylestown, serves Bucks County, Upper Montgomery County, Planners send Barto to Real Estate northeast Philadelphia and parts of New Jersey, according to McCabe. Council

Rentals WCOJ will operate as a radio affiliate to EWTN Global Catholic Network, he said. The Phoenix welcomes Autos new editor Shopping "We have been operating quite successfully based in Doylestown for the past nine years, More Today's Stories Special Sections and we're very pleased to expand our coverage and introduce Catholic radio into the Chester County area though WCOJ," said McCabe. Place An Ad Classifieds Under Holy Spirit Radio, 80 percent of WCOJ's air time will include ETWN radio programs, said McCabe. SERVICES Subscribe The remaining 20 percent of air time will be divided between shows of Catholic interest and local announcements for parishes and parochial schools, he said. ePaper Login Photo Reprints Local shows will include guests from area prayer groups and a vocation hour. During vocation hour, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's vocation director will talk about becoming a priest, McCabe said. MEMORIES McCabe said the EWTN program lineup includes many listener call-in shows as well as Obituaries teaching programs, the Mass and special coverage of national and international Catholic events, such as papal trips. Holy Spirit Radio also produces six local programs.

"We have been completely listener-supported since going on the air in 1999 and have gotten very positive feedback from the community," said McCabe.

A show called "King's Men" will discuss men's spirituality, and there will also be a show with an anti-abortion focus entitled "Voices for the Unborn."

EWTN began as a cable television network in 1981, according to McCabe. Holy Spirit Radio, which has been on the air since 1999, was one of the first EWTN radio affiliates, he said.

McCabe said in a news release that in a time of increasing competition for media attention, commercial radio is experiencing a rocky time in terms of advertising dollars and ratings. But Catholic radio has become a true success story in recent years.

"When Holy Spirit Radio went on the air in 1999, there were fewer than 20 Catholic stations nationally and now there are more than 150," said McCabe. "We are seeing people come back to the church after many years away and becoming more involved in their local parishes and communities."

A local marketing agreement between WS2K Media and Holy Spirit Radio will be in effect as the two groups work toward a final purchase agreement.

"One thing that I want to stress to our new WCOJ listeners is that we're going to be featuring local guests and programs and that we're very anxious to provide the community

http://www.phoenixvillenews.com/site/news.cfm?dept_id=17915&newsid=20144903 10/13/2008 The Phoenix - Catholic radio group apparently buys WCOJ Page 3 of 4

— Catholics and non-Catholics alike — a station that will offer them enlightening and inspiring programming," said McCabe in the release.

EWTN began as a cable TV network in 1981 and is now available in more than 148 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM and FM radio networks, and its Web site www.ewtn.com, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world. Holy Spirit Radio is a lay-run listener-supported 501c3 non-profit, non-commercial station. The station's motto is "Inspired by the Holy Spiritâ€¦ Communicating Hope."

According to several Web sites, WCOJ began operating on Nov. 29, 1949. It originally broadcast as a daytime only station. The station increased its power to 5,000 watts and began full-time operation in 1952.

Originally WCOJ's studios were in a theater in downtown Coatesville.

Over the years the station has also had studios at the transmitter site in West Brandywine; at 3721 E. Lincoln Highway, Thorndale; and at 17 W. Gay St., West Chester.

©The Phoenix 2008

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Added: Monday October 13, 2008 at 10:50 AM EST http://www.phoenixvillenews.com/site/news.cfm?dept_id=17915&newsid=20144903 10/13/2008 The Phoenix - Catholic radio group apparently buys WCOJ Page 4 of 4

Poor Decision I especailly enjoyed the the network shows like Ramsey and Reynolds. I won't miss that silly morning show and all it's silly commercials and useless commentaries, but I sure will miss the joy of hitting the snooze alrm over and over. I also agree with the earlier comment about tearing at the fabric of a community. I don't welcome this new station, and I'm catholic. Dennis, Dwoningtown

Added: Wednesday October 08, 2008 at 04:46 PM EST

|Change of station You have ruined a good thing. I have been listening to WCOJ for over forty years. I feel that I have been robbed of a local voice that kept me abreast of what's going in Chester County. I will never listen to WCOJ again nor will my friends who enjoyed the station as it was . Kudos to Barry Cassidy. Joseph Stabler, Elverson PA

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