The Eternal Word Television Network, or EWTN, is a United States-based broadcasting network that carries Roman Catholic-themed programming. The programs include a daily Mass from its Birmingham, Alabama monastery and studios, talk shows such as EWTN Live and Sunday Night Live, Daily Rosary, Benediction, doctrinal instruction programs, entertainment/variety shows, children's programming, live coverage of world Roman Catholic events such as bishops' conferences and papal travels, music shows and youth programming. It is an independent charitable organization based in Irondale, Alabama, USA.

The network has trustees but does not have shareholders or owners. It is also a member of the World Catholic Association for Communication, or SIGNIS. Mother Angelica began receiving requests for speaking engagements, which led to the development of a video series of her talks taped at a local CBS affiliate Birmingham television station WIAT (then known as WBMG).

Her shows aired on CBN Cable (now ABC Family) as well as TBN. She decided that she wanted her own television station after appearing as a guest on a Christian network talk show in Chicago. About that appearance, she has said: In 1980 she built a TV studio on monastery property in Irondale, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham.

This developed into the worldwide broadcast center that is currently known as "EWTN" or the "Eternal Word Television Network." Mother Angelica purchased satellite space and EWTN signed on in August 1981 with 4 hours a day of programming, including talk shows, Mother Angelica Live (aired two nights a week), Sunday Mass once a week, and re-runs of older Catholic programs such as Life Is Worth Living with Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. The remainder of the time was filled with shows produced by Catholic dioceses across the country.

Other programs occupying the schedule included Christian drama shows produced by the Lutheran Church; This is Life and Patterns for Living, some other Protestant teaching programs that Mother Angelica determined were in agreement with her understanding of Catholic principles, and children's shows such as Joy Junction and The Sunshine Factory. About a third of programming time consisted of secular content, such as re-runs of The Bill Cosby Show, public domain movies, and cooking and western-themed shows.

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