 It is part of the international broadcast ministry of The World Family of Radio Maria, which is based in Italy and broadcasts in over thirty countries in thirteen languages worldwide.The station also audiostreams from its website for listeners outside its immediate signal area in addition to its very own smartphone app.A group of New York City-based volunteers known as "Friends of Radio Maria" which operates an Italian language FM subcarrier (of WKTU) acquired the original funding and construction permit for the new station in 2001 by means of a New York-based fundraiser called a "Mariathon."