Reply #216: Broadly speaking -- an arm of the DoD decides [View All]

[onenote]

The Armed Forces Network is run by an arm of the Department of Defense. The management of
the network are charged with responsibility for deciding what programming to present and
of obtaining the necessary rights to such programming. Most programming, as I understand it,
is donated to AFN by the rights holders at no charge or a greatly reduced charge.

The stated goal of the AFN in to give overseas personnel a "touch of home" by
offering them programming that not only meets the varied interests and tastes
of such personnel and their families but that reflects programming representative
of that currently available in the US. In meeting this goal, the AFN pursues the rights
to the most popular programming available in the US, while also seeking out diversity
in programming. Thus, in addition to limbaugh and hannity -- two of the most popular talkers
on radio -- AFN also offers programming from such sources as the Tom Joyner Show, the Ed Schultz show, and NPR. Religious programming on AFN is selected in consultation with the Armed Forces
Chaplains Board.