AFN TV – the television service of the American Forces Network aimed at US military stationed in Europe – changes from satellite to internet protocol (IP) delivery for land-based forces in March 2026.
The transition is already underway with last year’s roll out of the AFN Now app, available to download free via Apple and Google play stores for use on Apple and Android smart phones and tablets, select smart TVs and connected TV devices, such as an Amazon Firestick, Roku or Apple TV.
In addition to providing more channels, more content and during hours when viewers want to watch programming, the cost savings of moving from satellite feeds to IP will be more than $9M per year, said AFN officials.
“AFN Now is fully operational (with) live news and sports channels, as well as on-demand programming,” Defense Media Activity (DMA) Acting Director Max D. Lederer Jr. shared in a January memo with military commanders. “We are researching alternative methods to deliver the full suite of AFN services to our distribution partners operating cable television systems on and around military installations.”
AFN Now is a hybrid streaming platform, offering four types of content:
– Video-on Demand (VOD) available for playback anytime, offering flexibility to viewers. VOD includes top-rated sports, events, movies, and specials with approximately 300 new VOD entertainment assets added each week.
– Simulcast (Live) programming on AFN Sports, AFN Sports2, AFN News, and AFN Prime.
– Sports (Clipped) recording of the live simulcast within the content management system that allows AFN to publish VOD sports often within an hour of airtime with approximately 100 new VOD sports clipped each week.
– Interest-based VOD through Free Ad-supported Streaming Television (FAST) that gives viewers the opportunity to join VOD streams in progress 24/7. These include seasonal and thematic programming, such as holiday specials, special interest programming (like cooking, home shows, kids) and sports seasons. There are at least 10 FAST channels live at any given time.
Overall, AFN Now provides more than 500 TV series, movies, sporting events, and specials each week, with comprehensive coverage of all major sporting events and leagues.
While AFN’s eight-channel, high-definition satellite service ends next year, the global four-channel standard definition service will remain an option for customers in areas without sufficient bandwidth to support streaming.
