Catholic radio group seeks to expand reach with two Indiana stations

A Roman Catholic media group is trying to buy two bankrupt northwestern Indiana radio stations as it looks to extend its reach.

The Starboard Network of Green Bay, Wis., has offered to buy AM stations in Hammond and Michigan City for $3.25 million. The firm already owns seven radio stations in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota.

"Their goal is make Catholic radio available so someone driving across the country can tune it in everywhere they go," Jeff Kurowski of Green Bay's Catholic diocesan newspaper told the Post-Tribune of Merrillville, Ind.

Kurowski said that about 50 Catholic radio stations exist in the United States, compared with 1,500 Protestant stations.

Starboard plans to fill the Indiana stations' schedules with Catholic educational programs, devotionals, Masses and national talk shows hosted by theologians.