‘Small miracle’ radio widens local Catholic station’s reach

The “Small Miracle” radio allows people living within a 20-mile radius of Indianapolis to clearly receive Catholic Radio Indy 89.1 FM’s broadcast on a sub-carrier signal.

By Sean Gallagher

When Catholic Radio Indy 89.1 FM was launched more than three years ago, its reach went as far as its signal range, which encompassed most of Indianapolis, the counties northwest of Indianapolis, most of west-central Indiana, and some areas south of Indianapolis, including nearly as far as Bloomington.

Later, the radio station started broadcasting its programming live on the Internet.

That meant that anyone in the world who had access to the Web could listen to the station’s local and network programming.

Most recently, Catholic Radio Indy has started to use an older but now little-used technology to increase its listenership.

In September, it started broadcasting on what is known as a sub-carrier signal. Every FM radio station has these signals, but a special receiver is needed to hear them.

Catholic Radio Indy reached an agreement with another Indianapolis-based radio station to use their sub-carrier signal to carry its programming.

“We’re trying to use whatever technology is available to us,” said Robert Teipen, chairman of the board of Catholic Radio Indy and a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis.

“Even though the [sub-carrier signal] is an old-school technology, it helps us.”

Hundreds of what Catholic Radio Indy has termed “Small Miracle” radios were ordered. The radios have been programmed in the factory where they are produced to receive the signal.

Those interested in purchasing this special radio can do so for $20 at Catholic bookstores in the Indianapolis area, including at Angel’s Corner’s two locations, at Krieg Brothers’ Indianapolis locations, and at Holy Family Books and Gifts and The Village Dove in Fishers, Ind.

The radios can clearly pick up the signal within a 20-mile radius around Indianapolis. It is primarily useful for those in parts of the city and the surrounding suburbs who have been unable to listen to the station in the past, especially in their homes.

Jim Ganley, Catholic Radio Indy’s general manager, said that 600 of the radios were sold in the first month that they were available.

“This has literally made the radio station available to thousands and thousands of homes that couldn’t get it before,” he said. “We’ve got hundreds of new people coming on board. We can tell in our phone calls here at the station and our e-mails. It’s been really special.”

(For more information about the “Small Miracle” Radio, call 317-840-8400, ext. 21.) †