Catholic Radio and Television Network (CRTN), with the cooperation and support of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), was founded in response to the profound changes occurring through Central and Eastern Europe on the eve of the 21st century. For over 70 years a lack of religious education complemented by militant anti-Christian and anti-Church activism created suffering for faithful who found it difficult, if not impossible to learn and practice their faith. With the financial and logistical support of ACN, CRTN pioneered Christian media projects to help revive religious education and the renewal of Catholic media throughout these regions.

CRTN was founded as the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Centre in 1987 to produce Catholic and Orthodox radio programming for Russia. In May 1989, CRTN started the Russian language radio program “Radio Blagovest” (A Call to Prayer). Contents ranged from catechesis to bible teaching and religious news. Subjects sought to emphasize the common points that unite Christians and to discuss differing opinions in a constructive manner. The Sts. Cyril and Methodius Centre was renamed Catholic Radio and Television Network (CRTN) in 1990 and given the task of building up a structure of media work with project partners in the former Soviet Union.

1987: The Sts. Cyril and Methodius Centre (CRTN’s original name) to produce Catholic and Orthodox radio programming for Russia.

1989: The shortwave Russian language radio program “Radio Blagovest” (A Call to Prayer) broadcast by Radio Monte Carlo for the Western part of Russia and the Philippine Radio Veritas for Siberia.

1990: The Sts. Cyril and Methodius Centre was renamed Catholic Radio and Television Network (CRTN) to develop media projects with Catholic and Orthodox partners in the former Soviet Union in the service of reconciliation between these churches.

1991: A Fatima – Moscow satellite link between the state television networks RTP (Portugal) and RTR (Russian.

1992: A religious television program exchange for the national networks throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

1992: A CRTN and RTR coproduction about the life of Christ in the Holy Land

1993: The Catholic and Russian Orthodox press agency Blagovest Info in Moscow, Russia. Today Blagovest Info is the oldest and most respected religious news agency in Russia.

1993: A CRTN production and the 20 and television co-production about the Hill of Crosses

1994: The CRTN, RTR, and Czech TV satellite link up about Charta77 

1994: The Greek Catholic press agency ARI in L’viv, Ukraine.

1994: The Catholic Lithuanian Radio Mazoji Studija.

1995: The “Christian Church and Social Channel” radio network in Moscow, Russia, a cooperation between the Russian Orthodox radio, “Radio Sophia”, “CRTN,S Radio Blagovest” and “Radio Dar” at the Moscow State University.

1996: The Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Radio Voskresinnya (Radio Resurrection) in Lviv Ukraine. Radio Resurrection still broadcasts daily programming nationally from L’viv on the Ukrainian National Network.

1996: CRTN production increases to one documentary per month.

1997: Blagovest Media, a production & distribution center of Catholic-Orthodox television programs for broadcast on state TV networks throughout Russia and internationally.

1997: Zavet, a center for domestic distribution of Catholic and Orthodox programs.

2000: The development of the Internet platform www.crtn.org to help facilitate the contact, coordination, and negotiation of programming sales between Catholic producers and the Catholic television networks.

2011: CRTN production of “Where God Weeps” – an English language weekly magazine program concentrating on the areas of the world where Catholics are unable to live their faith fully due to political, social and financial constraints.

 2012: CRTN production of “Donde Dios Llora” – a Spanish language weekly magazine program concentrating on the areas of the world where Catholics are unable to live their faith fully due to political, social and financial constraints.

 2016: CRTN broadcast distribution grows to over 70 television networks worldwide