AFN - American Forces Network

The American Forces Network Europe provides radio and television service to military members, civilians and family members in the U.S. European Command.

The network, headquartered in Frankfurt, serves U.S. forces in 56 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Persian Gulf and many of the countries that have evolved from the former Soviet Union. The American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, Cal., buys the entertainment programs broadcast by the network. It has an annual budget of $6.8 million for the purchase of all of its programs. That doesn't sound like much when you consider that it takes 26,000 television episodes to fill AFN's requirements for a year, not to mention the music and radio programs and the live radio and television sports.

But believe it or not AFN broadcasts most of the top rated U.S. television shows, most major sporting events and also plays most of the current U.S. hit music. That's largely because the owners of the programs, out of consideration for the audience, let AFRTS have the programs at cut-rate prices

AFRTS sends all these radio and television programs to Europe via satellite. From here, satellite decoders bring the signals into individual apartments and cable systems supplying services on bases and posts in Europe. The satellite dish and decoder to pick up the multiple AFN services costs around $600, or can be rented through AAFES Power Zones or the Navy Exchange.

There is only one AFN television signal that's transmitted over-the-air, but it provides the best from all the commercial networks and production companies. During a typical night on AFN, you can see NBC's Friends, ABC's NYPD Blues, CNN's Headline News, NBC's Tonight Show and CBS's Late Show.

On average, AFN Television broadcasts nine of the top ten U.S. television programs, plus news and documentaries from the states. There are plenty of information programs available aimed at bringing you a "touch of home" while assigned in Europe. Most major U.S. sporting events are broadcast as well. Just plan on getting up very early to catch them in Europe, or time-shift them with your VCR.

Decoder owners and most people watcing AFN via cable can watch the following AFN-TV services:

o AFN News. Expanded coverage with round-the-clock Stateside news programs, including the morning shows and nightly newscasts of the major networks, regular CNN and Fox newscasts, personalities like Larry King and Ted Koppel and much more

o AFN Sports - expanded coverage of major sporting events and increased coverage of non-mainstream sports such as track and field, boxing, tennis, WNBA and others

o AFN Europe, the prime entertainment channel here in Europe. It also carries all the latest U.S. military news gathered by reporters assigned to bases and posts throughout the U.S. European Command.

o Spectrum, a family-oriented entertainment channel with movies, documentaries and other specialty programming, drawn from such stateside networks as Public Broadcasting Service, Discovery and the History channels.

o AFN Pacific, featuring the same programming as AFN Europe, but eight hours earlier.

o AFN Korea, which broadcasts many of the same programs as AFN Pacific except for a few instances where the scheduled programs have been purchased by commercial Korean television.

AFN Power Network radio is a news, information and sports talk intensive service that also periodically broadcasts country and golden oldies music. During the week listeners hear live programs like Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Weekend Edition from National Public Radio. Other programs include Paul Harvey, Rush Limbaugh, Focus on the Family, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, On Computers, Car Talk and American Country Countdown.

Newscasts are provided throughout the day from AFN, Associated Press, CNN, Bloomberg Network, Soldiers Radio and Television, AFRTS News in Washington, Air Force Radio News and other networks and agencies around the world.

Z-FM radio service is a music-intensive radio station available on different FM frequencies throughout Europe. Many military communities in Germany, Italy, Belgium, Bosnia and Turkey have their own local DJ during the weekday morning and afternoon hours. The disc jockeys take requests and keep listeners updated on community news and events, school closings, weather updates and U.S. exchange rates.

Satellite decoder holders also have other AFN audio services: adult rock and roll, adult contemporary, country, urban contemporary, pure gold oldies and National Public Radio. During non-news hours on the NPR channel, there is also a good selection of classical, jazz and blues as AFN tries to cover everyone's music tastes and desires.
click for AFN frequencies

The AFN Europe website offers information on all the radio and television services available.
http://www.afneurope.army.mil
The AFRTS web site is http://www.afrts.osd.mil/afnontv
AFN�s telephone number is DSN 329-4335. or +49-69-15688335.