AFN Europe, Germany (2000)

Unused bumper sticker from 2000, sheet measures approximately 20 cm by 8 cm.
Front side: background: white; AFN Europe logo.
Back side: white.


The American Forces Network (AFN) is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS, commonly pronounced "A-farts") for its entertainment and command internal information networks worldwide. The AFN worldwide radio and television broadcast network serves American service men and women, Department of Defense and other US government civilians and their families stationed at bases overseas, as well as U.S. Navy ships at sea.

AFN broadcasts popular American radio and television programs from the major U.S. networks. It is sometimes referred to as the Armed Forces Network.

AFN 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, Rhythmic R&B, Jack FM, and country music. Ryan Seacrest's AT40, Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks are broadcast weekly over AFN Radio. In addition to music, AFN broadcasts syndicated talk radio programs such as Car Talk, Bob and Sheri Show, Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, Kim Komando, Rush Limbaugh Show, Motley Fool Radio Show, A Prairie Home Companion, Doug Stephan,Titillating Sports with Rick Tittle, Sports Overnight America and other programs from a variety of sources. Weekly religious programming is offered to AFN stations via closed-circuit.

On April 24, 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 CHR flavor. When the Eagle was launched AFN Europe took control of what local DJs could play.

Altogether, AFN produces 10 general-use streams for AFN stations to use. Of these, five 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 (also known as SSB) installed). How these stations use these formats is up to them. These formats are:
- Hot AC (mainstream hits and yesterday's favorites)
- Today's Best Country (country/western)
- Gravity (urban rhythmic)
- AFN Legacy - Deep Classic Rock Gems
- MAX FM ('80s, '90s)
- The Voice (News, Talk and Information)
- AFN Clutch (sports programming from ESPN and Yahoo! Sports Radio)
- AFN Fans (sports programming from FOX Sports Radio and Sports Byline USA)
- Power Talk (liberal and conservative talk programming)
- NPR (public radio programs from NPR and others).
*source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Forces_Network