|
 The
American Forces Network Europe provides that 'touch of home' with
multiple radio and television service to military members, civilians and
family members in the U.S. European Command. AFNE, headquartered in
Mannheim, serves U.S. forces stationed in Europe, the Middle East,
Persian Gulf and many of the countries that have evolved from the former
Soviet Union.
The Defense Media Center at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside,
California buys the entertainment programs broadcast by the network. It
has a budget that is tiny by broadcasting standards for the purchase of
all programs, sporting events and music broadcast by the AFN networks
worldwide. And it takes more than 26,000 television episodes to fill the
AFN 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. People who don't live on post can still get the
programs. A satellite dish and decoder to pick up the multiple AFN
services costs around $600, or can be rented. Check with 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 week on AFN, you can see
NBC's Today Show, ABC's Desperate Housewives, CNN's Headline News, Fox's
O'Reilly Factor 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.
Decoder owners and most people watching AFN via cable can watch the
following AFN-TV services:
- AFN Prime Atlantic is the main 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.
- AFN Sports provides coverage of major baseball,
football and basketball events, plus non-mainstream sports such as track
and field, boxing and tennis. It also rebroadcasts important events that
took place at an inconvenient time in Europe.
- AFN Spectrum features movies, the best of public
broadcasting, arts, entertainment, classic series and cartoons, plus
programming from the Discovery Channel and the History Channel.
- AFN Family presents entertainment reflecting
traditional family values, with a wide variety of programming targeted
to children between 2 and 17, as well as informative programs for the
whole family.
- AFN News brings you 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 Bill O'Reilly and much more
- AFN Xtra brings you big name athletes, celebrities,
and comedians with topical sports and entertainment news, trends, youth
culture and current events, while getting you inside the fast-paced
worlds of action sports and video gaming.
- AFN Movie offers a wide variety of films and
specials, with fewer interruptions, complemented by programs that take
the viewer behind the scenes of the entertainment industry. Primarily
targeted to adults 18 and older, it premieres a new movie every Saturday
night.
- AFN Prime Pacific has the same programming as AFN
Prime Atlantic, but eight hours earlier.
- The Pentagon Channel is your 24 /7 source for
Defense Department news programs, press conferences and major Defense
Department briefings on subjects impacting the troops.
AFN RADIO Ð PROUDLY SERVING SINCE 1943!
AFN Europe has more than 40 radio transmitters located throughout the
continent. This means that chances are, wherever you go, you can tune in
to "that touch of home". You won't be missing stateside or European
Command news, your favorite music, talk show or ball game again. Most
of the larger U.S. military facilities across the continent have two
distinctly different AFN radio services, a news-talk dominated Power
Network and a music-based Eagle service.
Power Network is the news, information, talk and sports radio
network. Newscasts are provided throughout the day from AFN, Associated
Press, CNN, ABC, Soldiers Radio and Television, The Pentagon Channel,
Air Force Radio News and other networks and agencies from around the
world.
The Eagle is mostly music-based. Many military communities in
Germany, Italy, Belgium 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.
AFN carries religious programming on both radio and TV, but with a
number of restrictions. There may be no derogatory references to other
religions, or to the ethnic heritage, nationality, race or gender of any
person or group. Nor can they invite listeners to contact the producer
or sponsor, or broadcast material of a narrow sectarian nature.
In Germany, Power Network is usually the AM radio service and the
Eagle is on the FM band. If there is only one frequency in your area,
the service is probably a combination of both Power Network and the
Eagle as the one way to provide as many varied tastes in radio
programming possible.
Satellite decoder holders also have other AFN audio services: rock
and roll, adult contemporary, country, urban contemporary, pure gold
oldies, Fox Sports Talk 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.
AFN Europe is also worldwide with European Command news stories and
other U.S. military news and information at: http://www.afneurope.net.
The AFRTS website is http://www.myafn.net.
The network maintains a telephone trouble number for radio and
television service disruption. If you have lost AFN service, call DSN
389-4444 or Germany commercial 0621-460 85444.
|
