Editing American Forces Network (section)

===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 on the organization's website.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://v3.myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/ |title=myAFN Schedule |work=Defense Media Activity |year=2015 |access-date=22 June 2015}}</ref>

====Radio====
AFN also offers a variety of radio programming over its various frequencies throughout the world. There is both local programming (with military disc jockeys) and satellite programming. 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'''), ''[http://mrdad.com/category/positiveparenting-afn/ Mr Dad: Positive Parenting]'' ('''AFN The Voice'''), and other programs from a variety of sources. Weekly religious programming is offered to AFN stations via closed-circuit.

On 5 December 2005, liberal/progressive [[Ed Schultz]] and conservative talk show host [[Sean Hannity]] were added to the radio programs provided by the AFN Broadcast Center to its affiliate stations. Liberal [[Alan Colmes]] rounds out the political talk lineup on The Voice channel.

On 24 April 2006, AFN Europe launched AFN The Eagle, a virtually 24-hour-a-day radio service format initially modeled after "Jack FM" but most recently a "Hot AC" format. This replaced ZFM, which had more of a contemporary hit radio flavor. When the Eagle was launched, AFN Europe took control of what local DJs could play.

Altogether, AFN produces ten general-use streams for AFN stations to use. Of these, six are music-based, two are sports-based and three general news/talk channels, including The Voice, which features live play-by-play of American sports (it's also the one heard on shortwave, if the shortwave radio has [[Single sideband]] installed). How these stations use these formats is up to them. These formats are:
* '''AFN The Blend''' (mainstream hits and yesterday's favorites, programming from [[Westwood One]] and [[Premiere Networks]]. Formerly known as "AFN Hot AC")
* '''AFN Country''' (country/western)
* '''AFN Gravity''' (urban rhythmic)
* '''AFN Legacy – Deep Classic Rock Gems'''
* '''AFN's Joe Radio''' ('80s, '90s)
* '''AFN Freedom Rock''' (Rock music)
* '''AFN The Voice''' (News, talk and information)
* '''AFN Clutch''' (sports programming from ESPN and [[SportsMap]])
* '''AFN Fans''' (sports programming from [[Fox Sports Radio]] and [[Sports Byline USA]])
* '''AFN PowerTalk''' (liberal and conservative talk programming)
* '''NPR AFN''' (public radio programs from [[NPR]] and others)

====Television====
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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.

AFN produces and broadcasts eight core satellite television channels. 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 [[sitcom]]s, [[drama]]s, syndicated [[court show]]s, [[talk show]]s, [[game show]]s and [[reality show]]s 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 opera]]s 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 Prime Freedom''' started in 2006 as a customized time-shifted version of AFN Prime for Afghanistan<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.incirlik.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/302876/afn-brings-one-more-channel-to-the-line-up/ |title=AFN brings one more channel to the line up |date=22 December 2006 |access-date=18 July 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718113231/https://www.incirlik.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/302876/afn-brings-one-more-channel-to-the-line-up/ |archive-date=18 July 2024}}</ref> and shuttered services in June 2013 after the drawdown of troops from the Middle East.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/103748/afn_to_tweak_decoder_settings_june_4_24 |title=AFN to tweak decoder settings, June 4–24 |date=21 May 2013 |access-date=18 July 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126230948/https://www.army.mil/article/103748/afn_to_tweak_decoder_settings_june_4_24 |archive-date=26 January 2019}}</ref>
* '''[[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 (American 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]], [[College football|NCAA college football]], [[men's college basketball|men's]] and [[women's college basketball|women's NCAA college basketball]], [[FIFA]] soccer and [[PGA Tour]], as well as other highly rated team competitions. Most major boxing and martial arts events, including all pay-per-view events from [[WWE]] and other promoters, airs on the channel with no additional payment to the viewer.
* '''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.