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The US Army’s 5th Signal Command, which is responsible for the terrestrial TV transmitters that broadcast AFN, plans to turn off the terrestrial signal in Belgium and Germany starting next month. The change will affect only those who receive the broadcast via a TV antenna. Viewers who own AFN decoders will not notice any change.
The terrestrial transmitters will be shut down in phases. AFN plans to warn viewers by airing commercials two weeks before the transmitters are cut off in those communities. “If you’re seeing the commercial, it’s going away,” said AFN-Europe’s commander, Colonel William Bigelow. “If you’re not seeing it, don’t worry about it.”
People who receive the terrestrial signal are able to view only one channel, AFN Prime Atlantic. AFN officials said most people who receive the terrestrial signal are expats, retirees or local nationals, and AFN officials have no way to track how many people will be affected by the change. The end to terrestrial TV transmission will save nearly $800,000 a year, according to 5th Signal Command spokesman Lawrence Torres III.
The lone exception to the change is Schweinfurt, Germany, where many troops live in government-leased housing without the built-in cable service that other garrisons provide. “We’re developing a plan to provide them a service,” said Major Paul Haverstick, AFN-Europe operations officer. With the change, Americans living off post will have to get a decoder and satellite if they still want AFN programming.
Americans saw the first military TV broadcasts at Ramstein in 1957 through low-powered terrestrial transmitters, and terrestrial TV was the sole method used by AFN until 1997, when the network provided additional channels through cable and satellite. “We’re moving away from that old technology … it’s probably been a long time coming,” Colonel Bigelow said.
The terrestrial transmitters will be shut down in phases. AFN plans to warn viewers by airing commercials two weeks before the transmitters are cut off in those communities. “If you’re seeing the commercial, it’s going away,” said AFN-Europe’s commander, Colonel William Bigelow. “If you’re not seeing it, don’t worry about it.”
People who receive the terrestrial signal are able to view only one channel, AFN Prime Atlantic. AFN officials said most people who receive the terrestrial signal are expats, retirees or local nationals, and AFN officials have no way to track how many people will be affected by the change. The end to terrestrial TV transmission will save nearly $800,000 a year, according to 5th Signal Command spokesman Lawrence Torres III.
The lone exception to the change is Schweinfurt, Germany, where many troops live in government-leased housing without the built-in cable service that other garrisons provide. “We’re developing a plan to provide them a service,” said Major Paul Haverstick, AFN-Europe operations officer. With the change, Americans living off post will have to get a decoder and satellite if they still want AFN programming.
Americans saw the first military TV broadcasts at Ramstein in 1957 through low-powered terrestrial transmitters, and terrestrial TV was the sole method used by AFN until 1997, when the network provided additional channels through cable and satellite. “We’re moving away from that old technology … it’s probably been a long time coming,” Colonel Bigelow said.