Catholic News Agency, ACI Group merging into EWTN

Jun 19, 2014 / 09:32 am

In one of the biggest developments in Catholic media history, Catholic News Agency and the Eternal Word Television Network announced Thursday that the two media outlets are merging.

The partnership brings the entire ACI Prensa Group – Catholic News Agency, as well as the Spanish language ACI Prensa and the Portuguese ACI Digital – into the EWTN family.

"EWTN has been a partner with both Catholic News Agency and ACI Prensa for many years in creating and distributing Catholic news content, and I am very pleased and excited that these two highly respected news organizations will become a part of the EWTN family of services," Michael Warsaw, EWTN's chairman of the board, said June 19.

"Since its founding a decade ago, CNA has proven itself to be a valuable source for reporting on important issues of the day that are of interest to Catholics and non-Catholics alike."

Alejandro Bermudez, executive director of CNA, commented that "among other impressive accomplishments, EWTN is the world's largest distribution outlet for Catholic content. Given that CNA and the ACI Group have become one of the largest generators of Catholic news content in three languages, this union is a synergistic, natural step to take."

"This is truly a 'match made in Heaven.'"

The parties will exchange no cash, and EWTN will assume responsibility for the activities of its new partners. Bermudez, a member of the Christian Life Movement, is to remain executive director of CNA.

EWTN Global Catholic Network, the largest religious media network in the world, has been broadcasting for 33 years. It reaches 230 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories; it also reaches a wide audience through its radio broadcasts, website, print news services, and publishing arm.

The network acquired "The National Catholic Register," the leading Catholic newspaper in the U.S., in 2011.

Catholic News Agency has been one of the fastest growing Catholic news providers to the English speaking world since its founding in 2004.

With bureaus in Rome, Washington, D.C., Denver, Peru, and Chile, as well as correspondents in Spain, Brazil and Southeast Asia, CNA is able to provide a truly global perspective on the happenings of the Catholic Church.

Responding to St. John Paul II's call for a "New Evangelization," CNA strives to provide free, up-to-the-minute news on the universal Church to any person with access to the internet.

Through its free Access-for-Editors service, CNA offers news stories from across the U.S. and around the globe to Catholic Press Association publications and diocesan newspapers. The service also includes free photos from the CNA library, as well as special discount rates on photos from ANSA and Getty Images.

CNA recently added Spanish-language news to its Access-for-Editors service, drawing from its sister-agency, ACI Prensa, which is the largest Spanish Catholic news service in the world.

Warsaw reflected that "ACI Prensa has been the world's leading outlet for Spanish-language Catholic news and reporting.  ACI Prensa will be a perfect fit alongside EWTN's other services including our Spanish-language television, radio and web-based services."

The ACI Group is also known for its strong social media presence, with a combined monthly post reach of over 20 million views and more than 750,000 followers on Facebook, as well as nearly 300,000 followers on Twitter.