CatholicTV Widget Now on 154 Different Websites Including Websites of 33 U.S. Dioceses

In November 2009, CatholicTV launched its widget “CatholicTVjr”. Currently 154 different website owners have reported adding the widget to their websites. It’s so easy to add that many agencies and parishes add the standard player to their websites.

The widget is a video player which can be embedded onto any website and allows website visitors to instantly watch over 30 different television programs by CatholicTV without charge. CatholicTV is a non-profit corporation.

Of the 154 websites which have added the widget, 33 are the websites of various dioceses across the United States including the Dioceses/Archdioceses of Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, Salt Lake City, Boston, Omaha, Gallup (TX), and many others.

CatholicTVjr has also been added to the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the websites of several chapters of the Knights of Columbus.

The offering of so much free television programming on the widget is unprecedented. All 4 major national television networks offer widgets, but only CatholicTV offers full-length programs for free. The President of the CatholicTV Network, Fr. Robert Reed came up with the idea because he had “the desire to share CatholicTV’s content with dioceses, parishes, schools, and anyone who has a website. It’s the world’s first Catholic television widget”, said Reed.

CatholicTVjr can be added to any website by visiting www.CatholicTVjr.com. This URL offers the code that can be easily pasted into any website in about as much time as it takes to say a “Hail Mary”. In addition, CatholicTV invites interested parties to request a customized version of CatholicTVjr which will only include the shows requested. CatholicTVjr is also available in 3 different sizes.

Most available programs are original CatholicTV programs and these include the Catholic movie review show “Spotlight”, the Catholic reality-television series “House+Home”, Vatican programming, the Catholic game show “WOW: The CatholicTV Challenge”, Catholic news, Catholic Spanish programming and more.

CatholicTV also invites anyone who has professional quality video that exhibits the life of the Church in their local area to send it to CatholicTV where it just might be featured on CatholicTVjr around the globe.

CatholicTV Programming Comes to Virgin Islands

CatholicTV programming is now available to Innovative Cable viewers in the Virgin Islands on the islands of St. John and St. Thomas.

Each day CatholicTV programming airs on Innovative Cable channel 16 from 4-8PM Eastern (Virgin Islands time is the same) and also from midnight to 6AM.

CatholicTV programming during these time slots includes the CatholicTV Daily Mass, CatholicTV’s signature talk show “This is the Day”, the new art show “The Way of Beauty”, the made-by-teens show “Realfaith TV”, and much more. To view the schedule visit www.CatholicTV.com

Fr. Robert Reed, President of the CatholicTV Network said of this new development, “On behalf of our entire staff at the CatholicTV® Network, I want to extend a very special welcome to all of our new viewers on the Virgin Islands on Innovative Cable. To all who have joined us on the islands of St. John and St. Thomas, we are so happy to know that you are part of the CatholicTV family!”

Monsignor Jerome Feudjio, Chancellor, Catholic Television in the Virgin Islands encouraged Innovative Cable to carry CatholicTV programming.

CatholicTV is currently seeking to expand its broadcast across the U.S. on as many cable and satellite providers as possible. Interested parties may help to bring CatholicTV to their providers by signing an online petition that will be used to encourage cable and satellite providers to include CatholicTV amongst their channels. Interested parties may sign up at CatholicTVeverywhere.com.

CatholicTV Asks Catholics to Help Spread CatholicTVeverywhere

Image courtesy of Glenmary Research Center (red areas indicate dense Catholic population)


CatholicTV recently launched an effort calling on Catholics to help spread CatholicTV across the nation.

Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in the United States. Close to a quarter of the US population identifies themselves as Catholic. 52% of Pennsylvania residents are Catholic, 44% in Massachusetts, 37% in California, and 36% in New York (Source: Wikipedia).

Despite these large numbers, many Catholics have only one or at most two Catholic television channels to choose from in their local areas. CatholicTV is available to carriers free-of-charge.

CatholicTV is asking people to visit http://www.CatholicTVeverywhere.com and join its list of supporters. Names of supporters are used in a similar fashion as a petition, which will show cable and satellite providers the amount of support and demand for Catholic television programming. This in turn, should help CatholicTV to spread its programming to more cities.

Secular Organization Chooses CatholicTV For 3 Awards

CatholicTV has been recognized with 3 Telly Awards for the promotional video entitled “Carry Your Faith” (CYF).

CYF depicts 2 Catholic school girls using an iPhone and being introduced to the CatholicTV iPhone application by a nun who at first glance appears angry and then smiles and shows them her iPhone. Sister Mary Brigid Riley, a Carmelite Sister, plays herself in the video. Sister is a long-time supporter of CatholicTV and serves at St. Patrick’s Manor in Framingham, MA.

CYF won two People’s Telly Awards, which are given after YouTube viewers support their favorite videos with a “thumbs up rating”. CYF won a Silver Telly (highest honor) for the “Use of Humor” category and a Bronze Telly in the “Promotional Pieces” category.

CYF was also awarded a bronze Telly by the Telly Awards judging committee in the Religious/Spiritual category.

The CatholicTV iphone application is free and can be found at the Apple “app” store. The app is called “CatholicTV” and allows users to watch daily Mass, keep up with Catholic news, and much more. More information is available at www.CarryYourFaith.com.

The Telly Awards is a New York-based organization which was founded in 1978. It is a widely known and highly respected national and international competition and receives over 11,000 entries annually from all 50 states and many foreign countries. The organization’s objective is to honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs. More information about the 31^st Annual Telly Awards may be found at http://www.tellyawards.com/

Information on how Telly Awards are judged is available at http://www.tellyawards.com/awards/judging/

Priests’ Programming at CatholicTV.com Shows Viewers How to Have a Good Laugh, How to Pray, and How to Deal With Grief

CatholicTV.com now has as wide range of programs hosted by priests. These videos can be viewed online without charge.

The programs range from “Going My Way”, a fun Merv-Griffin-style show in which priests sing songs, to Prayer in the Catechism, hosted by Fr. Benedict Groeschel. Some of these programs, such as Images of Jesus, are currently viewable only online.

Below are brief descriptions of the programming starring priests available at CatholicTV.com/priests

Spotlight- A movie review show with hosts Fr. “Chip” Hines and Fr. Bill Kelly.

Conversations with Cardinal Seán- A show with the Archbishop of Boston, Seán Cardinal O'Malley as he shares his insights with CatholicTV's General Manager, Jay Fadden

Going My Way- A modern version of the Merv Griffin Show. Father Chris Hickey and Father Paul Rouse share their musical talents along with guest priests. Fr. Hickey often makes comedic jokes throughout each episode.

Images of Jesus- Fr. Alfred McBride, O.Praem. hosts this series based on his successful book, Images Of Jesus

Prayer in the Catechism-Renowned priest and co-founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Father Benedict Groeschel unfolds the riches of prayer presented in the Catechism, inviting Christians to a deeper devotional life of prayer.

We’ve Got To Talk -Father Dan O’Connell preaches in front of a blue screen with fun, digital backgrounds. He was once recorded with a superhero costume on with a blue screen of the city in the background.

Blink- 3-5 minute segments on a variety of topics presented by different hosts. The Blink videos currently viewable online feature different priests including Fr. Terence Curley who discusses “Finding Your Way Through Grief ”.

Discernment of the Spirits-Fr. Tim Gallagher, O.M.V, a talented and well-known retreat leader teaches how to recognize good, evil, and God’s will in every day situations based on spiritual teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola..

CatholicTV Facebook Fans Pass 5000

On Easter weekend 2010, the CatholicTV® Network celebrated another social media milestone. The network reached 5,000 fans on its very active Facebook page. The CatholicTV Network’s official Facebook fan page launched in February of 2009, giving viewers and supporters a new tool to share their passion for CatholicTV programming.

The website fan page features CatholicTV video clips, background information, photo albums, and updates. Updates, announcements, and other communications keep CatholicTV fans entertained and informed about the work of the CatholicTV network. Recently, a Facebook “tour” of the CatholicTV studios was launched.

"Our Facebook fan page is exciting because we can keep fans in the loop about upcoming events and ongoing recording of their favorite shows and share news about new series projects," said Jay Fadden, CatholicTV Network General Manager. "The CatholicTV page gives us one more way to connect with our fans because their feedback is encouraged. We look forward to interacting with viewers and those who are interested in helping us spread the Good News.”

Facebook users who select the CatholicTV fan page may post their comments. Additionally, on CatholicTV.com the iCatholic section provides bloggers, videographers, and commentators the opportunity to update with photos, videos, and other user content.

Fr. Robert Reed, Director of the CatholicTV Network sees CatholicTV and its viewers as a family. He recently said, “The CatholicTV Network is a unique family that stretches across the United States and among many viewers internationally at CatholicTV.com. The CatholicTV family is strengthened and informed by our elaborate and always fresh Facebook page. We really like to keep people informed about what's coming up on CatholicTV.”

Timeline

2/2009 established CatholicTV.com Facebook Fan Page

3/2009 activated Facebook mobile

6/2009 1200 Fans

1/2010 3000 Fans

4/2010 5041 fans

To become a fan of CatholicTV.com 's official Facebook fan page, click here: CatholicTV Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/CatholicTV)

OneFaith: a great opportunity at CatholicTV

Our life is a journey with Christ and our lives together are marked by tremendous and touching stories. Our society and world is in desperate need of inspiration from great thinkers, gentle souls and creative, happy women and men who are being formed as disciples of Jesus Christ.

To this end, we would like to help you tell the world about the stories of Faith that you have seen, heard or told. We invite you to submit a video of between three and five minutes which creatively tells the true story of the Faith of an individual, couple, family, group or parish. The video could be of various styles including fiction, non-fiction, documentary, exposé, comedy or YouTubesque. This video must be completely original and follow closely the guidelines included with this letter. We reserve the right to choose or not to choose the video for airing...we also reserve the right to play the heck out of it if it is really ingenious and fun!If chosen, your video could be seen nationally in a new series on CatholicTV tentatively called: One Faith!

This is your big chance to inspire many others outside your circle of family, friends and parish toward a deeper Faith in Christ. The deadline is January 21, 2008 so get working…you never know whose life you will change by telling your one great story of Faith.

For more information about the OneFaith project, click right here.