History
The American Forces Network can trace its origins to 26 May 1942, when theOrigins
World War II
ThePost-war contraction and expansion
On 10 July 1945, the first AFN station in occupiedPost-War Europe
A large number of AFN stations continued broadcasting from American bases inKorean War
When war broke out inIran
An AFRTS radio station became operational inLadies and Gentlemen, I'm Chief Master Sergeant Bob Woodruff Station Manager of the American Forces Radio and Television Service inThe following day, AFRTS radio and television services in Iran were replaced by those operated by the state broadcaster National Iranian Radio and Television (NIRT), which were similar in content, appealing to the 60 000Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul .... After 22 years of radio broadcasting and 17 years of telecasting in Tehran, AFRTS Radio 1555 and TV Channel 7 cease all operations in this country at this time. I bid you all goodbye and thank you for letting us serve you. And now the national anthem of the United States of America."
South Vietnam
As the U.S. military presence in South Vietnam increased, AFRTS opened radio and later television stations there. AFRTS stations in Vietnam were initially known by the name "AFRS" (Armed Forces Radio Saigon), but as the number of stations quickly expanded throughout Republic of Vietnam, South Vietnam became known as "AFVN" (American Forces Vietnam Network) and had several stations, including Qui Nhơn, Nha Trang, Pleiku, Da Nang and Huế, the latter being overrun by the People's Army of Vietnam during the Battle of Hue in January/February 1968 and replaced by a station in Quảng Trị. AFVN's headquarters station was located in Saigon. In Vietnam, AFVN had a number of war-related casualties. After a fierce fire fight that killed two soldiers and a civilian contractor, the remaining AFVN station staff at Huế was captured and spent five years as prisoners of war. At the height of American involvement in the war, Armed Forces Vietnam Network served more than 500,000 fighting men and women at one time. AFVN developed a program along the lines of "GI Jive" from World War II. A number of local disc jockeys helped make hourlong music programs for broadcast. Perhaps the best-known program became the morning "Dawn Buster" program, (the brainchild of Chief Petty Officer Bryant Arbuckle in 1962) thanks to the popularity of the sign-on slogan "Gooooood Morning, Vietnam" (which was initiated by Adrian Cronauer and later became the basis for the film ''Good Morning, Vietnam'' starring Robin Williams). Among the notable people who were AFVN disc jockeys were Don L. "Scotty" Brink, Lee Hansen (radio), Lee Hansen, Les Coleman and Pat Sajak, Chris Noel and Denny Woytek. Harry Simons hosted the ''GO Show'' at both AFVN Saigon and Danang in 1968 and 1969. Simons along with broadcaster Mike Bates created and produced a 10-hour radio documentary (''AFVN: The GI's Companion'') as a tribute to AFVN and to honor all Vietnam Veterans. It aired and streamed on Veterans Day 2015 on WEBY Radio in Pensacola, Florida. The documentary is archived at Rock Radio Scrapbook: AFVN: The GI's Companion. Beginning in 1971, AFVN began to close some stations in Vietnam. The last station to close was the key station in Saigon in 1973. Broadcasting continued under civilian leadership on FM only and using the name American Radio Service (ARS). The civilian engineers were provided by Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE). ARS stayed on the air until the Fall of Saigon in April 1975. It was to play Bing Crosby's version of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas (song), White Christmas" as a signal for Americans that the Operation Frequent Wind, final evacuation of Saigon had begun. The Crosby version of the record could not be found so Tennessee Ernie Ford's record from 1968 was played.Thailand
In Thailand, the Department of Defense began the planning for the Armed Forces Thailand Network in 1964 with Project Lamplighter and Project Limelight. By late 1966, implementation of the network began by the U.S. Air Force with stations on the air at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Korat, U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, U-Tapao, Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Ubon, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Udorn, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Takhli and Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base, Nahkon Phanom. In addition, there were more than 20 satellite stations that rebroadcast one or more of the primary stations, and that included one or more clandestine locations in Laos. In April 1970, a battle-damaged McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, RF-4C Phantom II #65-0863 returning to Udorn from a reconnaissance mission in northwest Laos, crashed into the AFTN station, killing 9 Air Force broadcasters. Pilot Leaphart and Navigator Bernholz ejected from their battle damaged plane when it went out of control on final approach. Both crewmen were injured but survived. The incident was the single worst catastrophe in the history of military broadcasting killing: TSGT Jack A Hawley, Wakeman, OH; SSGT James A. Howard, Denver, CO; A1C Andrew C. McCartney, Lakewood, OH; SSGT Alfred N. Potter, Forest Grove, OR; SGT John Charles Rose, Bloomfield, NJ; TSGT Frank D. Ryan, Jr., Mercer Island, WA; SSGT Edward W. Strain, Myrtle Beach, SC; TSGT Roy Walker, Albuquerque, NM and A1C Thomas L. Waterman, Roanoke, VA. AFTN became the American Forces Thailand Network in the summer of 1969, and continued operations until the spring of 1976 when the remaining U.S. troops in Thailand were withdrawn at the request of the Thai government. More than 600 broadcasters from the Air Force, Navy and Army had served during the ten years that AFTN operated.Taiwan
Before the United States and the China, People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations in 1979, the AFN branch in Taiwan was Armed Forces Network Taiwan (AFNT), which had a main station in Yangmingshan American Military Housing, Taipei. After the U.S. armed forces withdrew all its troops stationed in Taiwan (including the United States Taiwan Defense Command) as Washington, D.C., recognizes Beijing and broke ties with Taipei, the station was reorganized under the name of International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT) by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei and the ROC government. Today, ICRT is the only English-language radio service in Taiwan.Caribbean
Then still known as the American Forces (or Armed Forces) Radio and Television Service, military bases and facilities throughout Puerto Rico received original radio programming from Army studios at Ft. Brooke in San Juan, Air Force studios at Ramey Air Force Base, and radio and television originating from Navy studios at Roosevelt Roads, in addition to local playback of stateside entertainment radio and television shows. This broadcast service was known as AFCN, the American Forces Caribbean Network in the 1970s (later as the Armed Forces Caribbean Network) served military bases and facilities throughout Puerto Rico from transmitters in San Juan (Fort Brooke, Fort Buchanan), Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, and Ramey Air Force Base. Each of these bases also had their own television transmitters or cable systems that played back stateside TV programming delivered to each location in weekly "packages" of 16mm film, kinescope recordings, video tape, and satellite news programming feeds. AFCN Roosevelt Roads also produced live radio programming featuring Navy Journalist/Broadcaster disc jockeys in a Top 40 hits format, combined with programming from AFRTS Hollywood-sourced stateside shows such as American Top 40. Programming broadcast over AFCN broadcast radio and television transmitter antennas also reached some local civilian markets across Puerto Rico, such as San Juan.Central America
Radio, and later television, to U.S. troops stationed in the Panama Canal Zone was provided initially by Armed Forces Radio (AFN) at Albrook Field and later as the Caribbean Forces Network at Fort Clayton with translators on the Atlantic side of the Canal Zone. In the early 1960s with reorganization of the command located in the Canal Zone, CFN became the Southern Command Network (SCN). SCN also broadcast to U.S. troops stationed in Honduras starting in 1987. SCN discontinued broadcasting on 1 July 1999 just before the 31 December turnover of the Canal Zone to the Republic of Panama when U.S. troops were removed from that country under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. AFN Honduras, which began in 1987 as SCN Honduras, now broadcasts from Soto Cano Air Base on 106.3 FM, and serves more than 600 American service members stationed at the installation, as well as numerous civilian employees and contractors. The station's primary mission is radio, originating programming including two daily live shows following the "Eagle" format. Personnel also occasionally produce video news packages. As of 15 January 2013, AFN Honduras is one of 18 stations under the operational control of AFN Europe.Shortwave radio
With the advent of satellite broadcasting, AFRTS has shifted its emphasis away from Shortwave radio, shortwave. Currently, the U.S. Navy provides the only shortwave single sideband shortwave AFN radio broadcasts via relay sites around the world to provide service to ships, including Diego Garcia, Guam, Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and others.Organization
The American Forces Network (AFN) is the operational arm of the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS), an office of the Defense Media Activity (DMA). AFN falls under the operational control of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public affairs (military), Public Affairs (OASD-PA). Editorial control is by the United States Department of Defense, Department of Defense, whereas the British Forces Broadcasting Service, British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), for example, is independent of the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence and the British armed forces. AFN employs military broadcasters as well as Defense Department civilians and contractors. Service personnel hold broadcasting military occupational specialty, occupational specialties for their military branch. Since 1997, all of AFN's military personnel receive primary training at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) atTelevision services
European operations
Until the early 1970s, U.S. military television service was provided in Central Europe by United States Air Force, Air Force Television at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In the early 1970s, AFN assumed this responsibility for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS).Pacific operations
Over-the-air TV for U.S. Forces in the Pacific is currently provided by AFN-Korea, AFN-Japan and AFN-Kwajalein. All local operations merged under the AFN banner effective 1 January 1998.South Korea
AFN-Korea, formerly American Forces Korea Network (AFKN), was the largest of AFN's Pacific TV operations, although there are also AM and FM operations from military bases around Korea. AFKN began TV operations on 15 September 1957, and consisted of an originating studio at Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, and six relay transmitters throughout the peninsula. AFKN's first live television newscast aired on 4 January 1959. Until December 2007, the channel was widely available to non-military audiences on cable television, but following complaints from U.S. companies trying to sell programs in South Korea, USFK requested that the Korean Broadcasting Commission direct the removal of Pacific Prime from the Korean cable lineups. American Forces Network-Korea discontinued analog over-the-air TV broadcast 1 May 2012, due to request from the South Korean government because many local residents could receive current over-the-air U.S. network programming, resulting in decreased sales of U.S. programs to South Korean stations.Japan
AFN-Japan, formerly the Far East Network (FEN), had one full-power VHF terrestrial TV outlet – located on Okinawa atop the Rycom Plaza Housing area in the central part of the island, AFN-Okinawa's (NTSC, U.S. channel 8) TV signal served United States Marine Corps, Marines, United States Air Force, Airmen, United States Navy, Sailors, United States Army, Soldiers, and their families stationed on-island. TV viewers on military bases in the Tokyo and Kanto Plain area of Japan can view AFN via contractor-operated base cable TV services, or through AFN Direct-To-Home (DTH) dish services if they reside off-base. AFN-Japan's radio services consist of AM and FM stereo operations at Yokota Air Base (810 AM & cable FM), MCAS Iwakuni (1575 AM), FLTACTS Sasebo (1575 AM), Okinawa (648 AM & 89.1 FM) and Misawa Air Base (1575 AM). AFN-Okinawa ceased over-the-air analog TV operations in 2011.Latin America
AFN-Latin America, formerly the Las CableVision (LCV), has one full-power VHF terrestrial TV outlet. Located on HDTV.Kwajalein Atoll
AFN-Kwajalein at the Reagan Missile Test Range on Kwajalein Atoll is the only civilian-run affiliate in AFN, broadcasting on U.S. channel 13 for military personnel and civilian contractor employees and their families. AFN-Kwajalein's signal is beamed by microwave to the nearby island of Roi-Namur and rebroadcast on channel 8. With the availability of AFN's DTH service, terrestrial over-the-air TV broadcasts at all AFN outlets are slated for deactivation in the near future.Gulf War
In January 1991, the network dispatched news teams and technicians to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for Operations Operation Desert Shield (Gulf War), Desert Shield and Desert Storm. These broadcasters reported to families of soldiers deployed from Europe and staffed a number of the U.S. radio stations making up the Armed Forces Desert Network. The first song on the air after the start of the ground offensive was "Rock the Casbah" by The Clash.Operation Iraqi Freedom
AFN-Iraq began broadcasting in December 2003 on the FM band shortly after the fall of Saddam. The first song on the air was "Freedom" by Paul McCartney. Within a short time, Freedom Radio was broadcasting on multiple FM channels from as far south as Basra to as far north as Mosul. AFN-Iraq, Freedom Radio began as a joint effort between the Air Force, the Marines and the Army. The first unit to operate the station was the 222nd Broadcast Operations Detachment (BOD), 222nd Broadcast Operations Detachment, an Army Reserve unit based in southern California. ''"Always There and on the Air"'' was the phrase that started it all, even though there were only eight hours of live radio to kick things off. After an introduction from Lieutenant General (United States), Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the commander of Coalition Ground Forces in Iraq, Air Force Master Sergeant Erik Brazones was the first DJ on the air. When the 222nd BOD took the reins of the radio operations, the first two regular radio shows were ''Niki Cage in the Morning'' and ''Abbey in the Afternoon''. AFN-Iraq signed off in 2011.Operation Enduring Freedom
AFN Afghanistan operated out of a building on Bagram Air Base. Its radio frequency throughout Afghanistan was 94.1 and 97.1 in Manas and produced live local shows. Its first radio transmission was at 06 o'clock 30 min on Friday, 21 July 2006. Beyond radio, AFN Afghanistan also had television news. It produced a daily five-minute newscast called Freedom Watch Afghanistan, which also aired on the Pentagon Channel. The station was typically staffed with Air Force broadcasters but also slots Army, Navy and Marine broadcasters as well. For support there were usually four-man teams of engineers to handle all transmission, decoder and satellite issues.Operations in Western Europe
AFN in Germany and SEB (Southern European Broadcasting) in Italy provided broadcasting to U.S. troops in Western Europe throughout the Cold War. The U.S. defense drawdown began in earnest after the Gulf War, and affected AFN stations across Europe, as many stations were consolidated or deactivated with the closing of bases. In Europe, AFN is still on the air from Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia, and Taszár, Hungary, to inform and entertain U.S. forces. AFN went on the air 29 May with service at the Tirana airport in Albania with satellite decoders and large-screen televisions placed in high traffic areas. At the same time, the AFN also advanced into the Yugoslav province of Kosovo along withMedia services
There have been ongoing plans for transitioning AFN TV to High-definition television, HDTV with an estimated completion timeframe between 2015 and 2017. So far, AFN has added one HD channel, with more being planned. However, the conversion to HD is an expensive project, so timelines and actual transition of channels is highly dependent on availability of funds. With the additional Department of Defense budget cuts looming, this project could easily be required to slip. However, AFN is continuing to research more efficient delivery methods in hopes of continuing along the planned path. AFN's television service is broadcast in standard North American NTSC format of 525 lines. All programming delivered by satellite is PowerVu encrypted Digital Video Broadcasting, DVB. While programming is provided to AFN by major American TV networks and program syndicators at little to no cost, for copyright and licensing reasons it is intended solely for U.S. forces personnel, authorized Department of Defense civilian employees, United States Department of State, State Department diplomatic personnel and their families overseas. AFN-TV is available to authorized viewers by "Direct-To-Home" (DTH) service with set-top decoders purchased or leased through military exchanges (similar to a membership store), licensed/contracted commercial cable operators, purchased used from other military members (the cheapest option) or Terrestrial television, terrestrial signal. The advent of DTH service coincides with the phasing-out of AFN terrestrial TV broadcasts due to reclamation of frequencies by host nations. AFN is considered a non-essential service, and programming ceases during government shutdowns in the United States, government shutdowns. Sports programming to which the AFN has already purchased rights continues to be carried, as the skeleton crew operating AFN for essential programming does not save any money by blackout (broadcasting), blacking out the programs.AFN programming
While the audience tunes into AFN to watch their favorite shows or listen to the latest stateside hits, entertainment is the "candy coating" used to attract the military viewer/listener. AFN's primary mission is to provide access for worldwide, regional and local command information (CI) spots, which air during commercial breaks in programming instead of commercial advertisements. These CI spots run the gamut from reminding service members to register to vote, promoting local command-sponsored recreation events and off-duty educational programs, providing health and wellness tips, and listing what's playing at local base movie theaters. AFN also inserts public service announcements from the Ad Council. Some of the 35 overseas AFN affiliates have the capability to cover the "worldwide" CI spots placed by the AFN Broadcast Center in California with regional or locally produced CI spots (such as localized messages from senior leadership). Many service members welcome this approach, while others find it troublesome, especially during the airing of the Super Bowl. The network is allowed to broadcast commercial movie promotion trailers provided by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and the Navy Motion Picture Service (NMPS) to promote the latest film releases in base theaters worldwide. Previously these were the only true "commercials" authorized for broadcast. AFN Radio and TV schedules are available here.Radio
AFN also offers a variety of radio programming over its various frequencies throughout the world. Not only is there local programming (with military disc jockeys), but there is satellite programming, as well. Music programming spans classic rock, rhythm and blues, Jack FM and country music. Ryan Seacrest's ''American Top 40'' (AFN The Blend), WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour (AFN Country), Casey Kasem's American Top 40 (AFN's Joe Radio) and the ''American Country Countdown'' with Kix Brooks (AFN Country) are broadcast weekly over AFN Radio. In addition to music, AFN broadcasts radio syndication, syndicated talk radio programs such as ''Car Talk'' (NPR AFN), John Tesh (Hot AC), ''The Bob and Sheri Show'' (AFN Joe Radio), ''Le Show'' (NPR AFN), ''Tech Nation'' (AFN The Voice), ''Kidd Kraddick in the Morning'' (AFN the Blend), ''Kim Komando'' (AFN The Voice), ''The Rush Limbaugh Show'' (AFN Power Talk), Delilah (radio host), Delilah (AFN The Blend), ''The Motley Fool Radio Show'' (AFN The Voice), ''A Prairie Home Companion'' (NPR AFN), ''Doug Stephan'' (AFN The Voice),''Titillating Sports with Rick Tittle'', ''Sports Overnight America'' (AFN FANS),Television
Like its radio counterpart, AFN TV tries to air programming from a variety of sources to replicate programming on a typical U.S. TV channel; sourcing from U.S. commercial networks (including PBS), and program syndicators at little to no cost since AFN does not air commercials and in that regard cannot profit from airing shows like stations in the United States can. In their place, AFN inserts public service announcements on various subjects; these can be civilian "agency spots" created by The Ad Council, nationally recognized religious and public health charities, AFN's own "command information" spots produced by the AFRTS Radio-Television Production Office (RTPO) or announcements by a regional/local AFN affiliate. The most common PSAs shown deal with sexual harassment, public health and safety, force protection/anti-terrorism, pride in service and messages to the troops. Some people have found the AFN TV commercials to be repetitive, annoying, and condescending. AFN produces and broadcasts eight core satellite television channels in NTSC color. They are accessible to both military and foreign service personnel abroad. All eight feeds are accessible in core areas, including but not limited to European, Korean and Japanese posts. Much of the rest of the world is limited to a smaller but more widespread naval broadcast.=Channels
= Unless specified, the first telecast of each channel targets the Japan/Korea region, then replayed several hours later for the Central European time zone. * AFN Prime. Formerly AFN Atlantic and AFN Pacific. The standard AFN feed airs current sitcoms, dramas, syndicated court shows, talk shows, game shows and reality shows popular in the United States, with a time delay from 24 hours to six months or more behind the United States airdates. In addition, popular U.S. soap operas such as ''General Hospital'' are aired by AFN on a one-week tape delay. This stream is divided into three feeds (AFN Prime Atlantic, AFN Prime Freedom (Middle East) and AFN Prime Pacific); the difference between the three is that they are time-shifted so that programs air at the same local time in each of the major regions served: Japan/Korea, Central Europe and Iraq. Many regional feeds (such as AFN-Europe and AFN-Korea) are based on AFN Prime and add local programming to it; thus, in a way, AFN Prime mimics the regular network TV concept. * AFN Spectrum. AFN Spectrum started as more of a conservative culture-oriented channel with programming from cable networks and classic TV series. In a way, it mimicked the "superstation" concept from cablecasters TBS (U.S. TV channel), TBS and WGN America. However, the Spectrum lineup currently contains more conventional programming, like ''American Idol'' and ''Ugly Betty'', as some of the public television and classic fare that made up Spectrum is being reduced but remain the primary constant on the channel. * AFN News. AFN News is a rolling-news channel providing news from all major news outlets. Newscasts, such as the ''NBC Nightly News'', ''Fox News'', ''ABC World News Tonight'' and ''CBS Evening News'', were all scheduled to air in the mornings so viewers could watch the headlines live, but now they air on a tape delay in the regular early evening slot, back to back. * AFN Family/AFN Pulse. AFN Family is a general entertainment channel providing programming for children ages 2 to 17. Although the name of the channel suggests programming appropriate for all family members at any time, the channel more closely resembles Freeform (TV channel), Freeform or Nickelodeon, with programming targeted at specific age groups during the course of the day. Programming during after school from 3 p.m. local time to 1 a.m. local time targets pre-schoolers but "ages" as older children become available to watch in the late morning and day. By 1 a.m. local time, programming is targeted at older teens. In September 2013, AFN launched a split in Family, which was branded AFN Pulse. About half of the day's programming remains aimed at the 2-to-13 age group. During primetime hours, the channel becomes AFN Pulse, and showcases programming primarily aimed at the older teen demographic, though it remains suitable for family viewing. * AFN Movie. AFN Movie is a channel showcasing movies as well as film-oriented programming. * AFN Sports. AFN Sports is a rolling-sports channel, providing sports news and events, including ESPN's ''SportsCenter'' and live and delayed broadcasts of the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, MLB, NHL, NCAA college football, men and women's NCAA college basketball, FIFA soccer and PGA Tour, as well as other highly rated team competitions. * AFN Sports 2. Launched in February 2006, as AFN Xtra. It is AFN's exclusive home for Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC and World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE programming, including all pay-per-view events, as well as motor sports, including NASCAR, NHRA, Motocross and other auto and motorcycle racing series. * AFN Sports HD. AFN Sports is also now available in digital high definition using the new Cisco D9865 receiver/decoder.Internet radio
In November 2013, the American Forces Network launched Internet radio streams expanding the reach of the military network's radio programming overseas.Regional stations
AFN Europe
The internet radio stations in Europe are as follows:AFN Pacific
The internet radio stations in the Asia-Pacific region are as follows: * Japan * South Korea * Diego GarciaAFN Go programs
AFN Go, formerly AFN 360, provides the following nine music and spoken word stations. AFN Go's Internet streams are only made available in countries where AFN has terrestrial stations (i.e., where the U.S. armed forces have established bases) and are not available in North America. AFN Go uses IP address geolocation to determine whether a listener can access the streams. AFN stations can be accessed where it is not available through proxy servers.AFN frequencies and transmitters by country (alphabetical)
Bahrain
Radio: AFN Bahrain * 106.3 FM: serves Naval Support Activity Bahrain, NSA Bahrain and ManamaBelgium
Television: Historical data only – AFN Prime Atlantic/AFN Benelux (NTSC) * 33H: Everberg, (Kortenberg) oriented towards Evere (2 kW) * 34V: Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, SHAPE, Casteau (4.5 kW) * 34V: Florennes (10 W) Terrestrial transmission of the AFN TV service in Belgium ended in 2010. Radio: AFN Benelux – The Eagle * 101.7 FM: Everberg, Kortenberg (900 W) serving NATO HQ and much of northern Brussels Capital Region * 106.2 FM: Kleine Brogel, Peer (200 W) * 106.5 FM: SHAPE, Casteau (200 W) * 107.9 FM: Chièvres (100 W)Cuba
Radio GTMO transmits locally for Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. * 102.1 FM: Top 40, urban, dance, rock music * 103.1 FM: Country music * 1340 AM: News and talk radio rebroadcastsGermany
Mediumwave AM
FM
The AFN transmitters in Germany are operated by different authorities but most are operated directly by the U.S. military. Some are the property of Deutsche Telekom, while others are controlled by German public broadcasting, public broadcasting corporations.Greece
* 106.3 MHz FM ** Souda Bay Naval Base, Souda Bay Air BaseHonduras
* 106.3 MHz FM ** Soto Cano Air Base. 20 WIraq ''Freedom Radio''
[''All AFN Iraq, Freedom Radio–Iraq stations went off the air on 30 September 2011, as a result of the continuing draw-down of U.S. Military personnel. Listing remains to document the coverage of Iraq.]'' * 93.3 MHz FM ** Baghdad (Green Zone, FOB Union III) – ''Transmitter Never Completed'' ** Fallujah (Dreamland (Fallujah, Iraq), Camp Baharia) ** Al Taqaddum, Al Taqaddum Airbase (TQ) * 101.1 MHz FM ** Tikrit (COB Speicher) * 104.5 MHz FM ** Baquba (FOB Hammer, FOB Warhorse) – ''Transmitter Never Completed'' * 105.1 MHz FM ** Mosul (Logistics Support Area, Camp Diamondback/2004 Forward Operating Base Marez bombing, FOB Marez) – 1 kW * 107.3 MHz FM ** Al Asad Airbase ** Balad, Iraq, Balad (Joint Base Balad, LSA Anaconda) – 250 W ** Nasiriyah (Ali Air Base, Tallil Air Base) – 200 W ** Qayyarah Airfield West (Q-WEST) – 250 W ** Ramadi (FOB Blue Diamond) ** Samarra (FOB Brassfield-Mora) ** Camp Taji ** Tall Afar (FOB Sykes) ** Umm Qasr (Camp Bucca) * 107.7 MHz FM ** Baghdad (Camp Slayer) – 1 kWItaly
In Italy there are 4 radio stations that serve 5 bases and more than 14 cities: * AFN The Eagle – 106.0 FM ** Monte Serra – AFN Livorno (After the closing of AFN Livorno it will be transmitted AFN Vicenza) in Pisa (Camp Darby), Livorno, Viareggio and the surrounding area. ** Monte Venda – AFN Vicenza in Vicenza (Caserma Ederle and Del Din), Verona, Venezia, Padova, Sud Treviso and the surrounding area. ** Aviano – AFN Aviano in Pordenone (Aviano Air Base), Udine and the surrounding area. * AFN Naples – 107.9 FM Collina dei Camaldoli Naples (Naval Base), Caserta, South Avellino and the highest zones (there are interferences) * AFN Sigonella – 105.9 FM in Catania (Naval and Air Base), North Siracusa and the surrounding area. ** * AFN Power Network ** Monte Serra – AFN Livorno Power (After the closing of AFN Livorno it will be transmitted AFN Vicenza) in Pisa (Camp Darby), Livorno, Viareggio and the surrounding area. ** Monte Venda – AFN Vicenza Power in Vicenza (Caserma Ederle and Del Din), Verona, Venezia, Padova, Sud Treviso and the surrounding area. ** Collina dei Camaldoli – AFN Naples Power in Naples (Naval Base), Caserta, South Avellino and the highest zones (there are interferences). ** Sigonella – AFN Sigonella Power in Catania (Naval and Air Base), North Siracusa and the surrounding area. ** Aviano – AFN Aviano Power in Pordenone (Aviano Air Base), Udine and the surrounding area. AFN Italy, has been serving Americans that live on American Bases in Pisa, Vicenza, Aviano, Napoli and Sigonella, since 1983. Many Italians also listen to AFN Radio to hear great music every day.Japan
* 648 kHz AM ** Camp Kinser: Urasoe, Okinawa. 10 kilowatts (kW). * 810 kHz AM ** Yokota Air Base: Tama Area, Western Tokyo. 50 kW transmitted from Wakō, Saitama. Serves the Greater Tokyo Area. Station uses the on-air ID "Eagle 810". * 1575 kHz AM ** Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni: Iwakuni, Yamaguchi. 1 kW. Station uses the on-air ID "Power 1575". ** Misawa Air Base: Misawa, Aomori. 600 W. ** United States Fleet Activities Sasebo: Sasebo, Nagasaki. 250 W. * 89.1 MHz FM ** Kadena Air Base: Kadena, Okinawa. 20 kW. Station uses the on-air ID "Wave 89". * US Television channel 11 ** Camp Foster: Okinawa.Netherlands
Radio: AFN Soesterberg 1964–1993 (former location at grid 52°7'25"N 5°15'13"E) Transmissions ceased at the dissolution of USAF 32nd TFS * AM – AFRS Soesterberg (1140 kC syndicated 1964–1972 from AFN Bremerhaven) 5 kW * FM – AFN Eagle Radio (93.1 mC live & syndicated 1973–1994 from Camp New Amsterdam/Soesterberg airbase) 0.015 kW The morning "Touch and Go" show from 5–9 am and the afternoon "Afterburner" show from 3–6 pm were live. The rest of the hours was syndicated from AFN Frankfurt. Television: AFN Benelux syndicated (early 1980s only UHF channel 80 NTSC) Currently active radio & TV: * 107.9 MHz FM ** Volkel Air Base (AFN Benelux)Saudi Arabia
Table of AFN-transmitters in Saudi Arabia. Table may be incorrect and incomplete. Please correct and expand if necessary.FM
The AFN FM broadcasting, FM Transmitters in Saudi Arabia are managed by the U.S. military.Spain
Radio: AFN Rota Radio – The Eagle * 102.5 FM: Naval Station Rota (5.0 kW) * 92.1 FM: Morón Air Base in Morón de la Frontera, Seville. (0.015 kW)South Korea
Television
NOTE: All over-the-air television broadcasts in South Korea ended in May 2012. The following are previous stations. * Channel 2 (VHF) ** Chuncheon, Gangwon-do (South Korea), Gangwon (100 W) ** Jinhae, South Gyeongsang (100 W) * Channel 12 (VHF) ** Daegu, North Gyeongsang (Camp Walker, Camp Henry, Camp Carroll, South Korea, Camp Carroll) (1 kW) * Channel 19 (UHF) ** Paju, Paju-ri, Gyeonggi * Channel 34 (UHF) (former Channel 2 VHF) ** Yongsan-gu,AM Radio (Thunder AM)
* 1440 kHz ** Daegu, North Gyeongsang (Camp Walker, Camp Henry, Camp Carroll, South Korea, Camp Carroll) (5 kW) ** Waegwan, North Gyeongsang (Camp Carroll, Camp Carroll, South Korea) (250 W) * 1161 kHz ** Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi (Camp Red Cloud, Camp Stanley, Camp Jackson (Korea), Camp Jackson) (250 W) * 1197 kHz ** Dongducheon, Gyeonggi (Camp Red Cloud, Camp Casey, South Korea, Camp Casey, Camp Stanley, Camp Jackson (Korea), Camp Jackson) (1 kW) * 1260 kHz ** Busan, South Gyeongsang (5 kW) * 1359 kHz ** Songtan, Gyeonggi (Osan Air Base, USAG Humphreys) (1 kW) * 1440 kHz ** Munsan, Gyeonggi and Paju, Paju-ri, Gyeonggi (5 kW) ** Chuncheon, Gangwon-do (South Korea), Gangwon (250 W) ** Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi (USAG Humphreys) (1 kW) ** Wonju, Gangwon-do (South Korea), Gangwon (250 W) ** Gunsan, North Jeolla (Kunsan Air Base) (1 kW) * 1512 kHz ** Jinhae, South Gyeongsang (250 W) ** Pohang, North Gyeongsang (250 W) ** Jeju-do, Jeju (50 W) * 1530 kHz ** Yongsan, Yongsan-gu,FM Radio (AFN Eagle)
* 88.1 MHz ** Busan, South Gyeongsang (250 W) * 88.3 MHz ** Dongducheon, Gyeonggi (Camp Red Cloud, Camp Casey, South Korea, Camp Casey, Camp Stanley) (250 W) ** Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi (USAG Humphreys) (50 W) ** Wonju, Gangwon-do (South Korea), Gangwon (50 W) * 88.5 MHz ** Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi (Camp Red Cloud, Camp Stanley, Camp Jackson (Korea), Camp Jackson) (100 W) ** Munsan, Gyeonggi and Paju, Paju-ri, Gyeonggi (50 W) ** Chuncheon, Gangwon-do (South Korea), Gangwon (50 W) ** Songtan, Gyeonggi (Osan Air Base, USAG Humphreys) (30 W) ** Gunsan, North Jeolla (Kunsan Air Base) (50 W) ** Gwangju, South Jeolla (505 W) ** Daegu, North Gyeongsang and Waegwan, North Gyeongsang (Camp Walker, Camp Henry, Camp Carroll, South Korea, Camp Carroll)(1 kW) ** Jinhae, South Gyeongsang (50 W) * 102.7 MHz ** Yongsan, Yongsan-gu,Turkey
Radio: AFN Incirlik – The Eagle * 1590 AM: Incirlik Air Base, 5 W * 107.1 FM: Incirlik Air BaseShortwave (USB)
The last known confirmation of AFN using its shortwave frequencies was in the mid-2010s. Current (2022) bandscans show no signal on any of AFN's frequencies. * Diego Garcia: ** 12.579 MHz daytime ** 4.319 MHz nighttime * Guam: ** 13.362 MHz daytime ** 5.765 MHz nighttime * Naval Air Station Key West, Key West, Florida: ** ''12.1335 MHz day & night'' ** ''7.811 MHz day & night'' ** ''5.4465 MHz day & night'' * Pearl Harbor, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii ** ''10.32 MHz daytime'' ** ''6.35 MHz nighttime'' See: AFN Shortwave FrequenciesSee also
* Chris Noel * AFN Berlin * British Forces Broadcasting Service * Canadian Forces Radio and Television * DoD News Channel * Far East Network * Israel Army Radio * Radio Forces Françaises de Berlin * Radio Wolga * Zvezda (TV channel)References
Further reading
* ''History of AFRTS: The first 50 years''. United States Government Publishing Office, U.S. Government Printing Office (1993). * Patrick Morley: This Is the American Forces Network': The Anglo-American Battle of the Air Waves in World War II''. Praeger Publishing (2001). * Trent Christman: ''Brass Button Broadcasters: A Lighthearted Look at Fifty Years of Military Broadcasting''. Turner Publishing (1992).External links
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