IRONDALE, Ala. (EWTN News) — The National Catholic Register has announced the launch of “Register Radio,” its new radio program. The program will air its first episode on the EWTN Radio Network on Sept. 2.

“Register Radio will possess the same vibrancy and incisiveness to media coverage surrounding the Catholic faith that the Register brings to its print and electronic editions,” said the newspaper’s managing editor Tom Wehner. “It’s a natural outgrowth of what we do already.”

The 30-minute program will air on Fridays at 2pm Eastern time with encores at 7pm Saturdays and 11am on Sundays. It will include interviews with writers, bloggers and newmakers behind the prominent news stories featured in the national biweekly newspaper and on its website, NCRegister.com.

Thom Price, the radio network’s director of programming and production, will host the program with Register senior writer Tim Drake.

“As the host, I’m excited about bringing the Register’s distinctive voice to new and different audiences,” Drake said.

Drake has been a guest on EWTN’s radio and television networks, Vatican Radio, Fox News and other media outlets.

The hosts are excited about the program’s feature “Media Watch,” he said. In that segment, “we’ll shine the light of truth on how the media is reporting on events surrounding the Catholic Church.”

Doug Keck, EWTN executive vice president and chief operating officer, said the radio program is “an exciting marriage” of two EWTN media outlets.

“This weekly news program brings to bear the best of both in a highly informative yet entertaining format designed to help listeners find the truth among the headlines of the day,” he said.

Register publisher Michael Warsaw, who is also the television network’s president and CEO, said the Register has provided the network a “platform for growth” and is “flourishing.”

“Our Lord is using his network to expand the reach of faithful Catholic journalism,” he said. “This radio initiative is a tremendous opportunity to reach many more souls for Christ.”

There are 170 affiliates of EWTN’s radio network which reach more than 130 million potential listeners. EWTN’s Sirius Satellite Channel #130 reaches another 13 million potential listeners in the U.S. and Canada.