Lightning Protection for Broadcast Towers (and more)

How EWTN Validated the Real-World Impact of Lightning Protection – By Removing It

When it comes to mission-critical broadcast operations, reliability isn’t optional – it’s everything. For the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), one of the world’s largest religious media networks, uninterrupted broadcasting operations are essential to reaching millions of viewers around the globe.

That’s why, in 1994, EWTN chose Lightning Eliminators & Consultants (LEC) to design and install a comprehensive lightning protection solution at one of its broadcast facilities.

What followed over the years became a powerful, real-world validation of the technology’s effectiveness, demonstrated not just when the system was in place, but when part of it was removed.

The Challenge: Protecting Continuous Broadcast Operations from Lightning Impacts

Broadcast infrastructure is inherently vulnerable to lightning. Towers, signal delivery equipment, and exposed electrical systems create ideal conditions for lightning attachment and surge-related damage.

EWTN faced specific lightning-related risks, including:

• Signal interruptions impacting global audiences
• Damage to sensitive broadcasting equipment
• Costly downtime and emergency repairs
• Reputational impact from service disruptions

To address these concerns, EWTN sought a solution that would go beyond traditional lightning protection methods.

The Solution: A Multi-Layered Lightning Protection Strategy for Broadcast Infrastructure

LEC designed and installed a customized protection system that included its patented Dissipation Array® System (DAS®), along with complementary grounding and surge mitigation components.

A key element of the design involved strategically placing DAS units on facility structures, including a perimeter fence, to reduce the likelihood of lightning attachment across the site.

With the system in place, the facility experienced stable, uninterrupted performance, even during periods of intense storm activity.

The Turning Point: When Protection Was Removed

Over time, facility modifications led to the removal of the perimeter fence. Along with it, the DAS units mounted on that structure were also taken out of service.

What happened next was…. highly revealing.

Following the removal, the facility began experiencing an increase in lightning-related issues, including disturbances and operational disruptions that had not been present when the system was fully intact.

This wasn’t a theoretical test or a controlled experiment, it was real-world cause and effect.

The Insight: Proven Performance Through Absence

EWTN’s field experience made the contrast clear:

• With the DAS system in place: Stable operations, minimal lightning-related issues
• With part of the system removed: Noticeable increase in lightning disturbances

This scenario offered a rare and compelling validation of the Dissipation Array System’s effectiveness. In most cases, success in lightning protection is measured by what doesn’t happen. But here, the absence of protection made the value unmistakably visible.

The Result: A Powerful Case for Proactive Lightning Protection

EWTN’s experience underscores a critical lesson for any organization operating sensitive or mission-critical infrastructure:

Lightning protection isn’t just about installation; it’s about maintaining system integrity over time.

Even partial removal or modification of a protection system can reintroduce risk and undo years of reliable performance.

Don’t Wait for a Failure to Prove the Value

If your facility depends on continuous operation, lightning risk should never be an afterthought or a one-time project.

Ensure your protection system is not only installed, but preserved, maintained, and optimized as your facility evolves.

Contact LEC today to evaluate your current system and identify any gaps that could expose your operation to unnecessary risk and close them to Keep You Running Through the Storm.