DECEMBER 27, 2024 – The Defense Media Activity (DMA) and the American Forces Network (AFN) recently passed a major milestone with its streaming service, AFN Now, streaming more than one million hours of content to U.S. military audiences worldwide. Released two years ago, DoD’s television streaming app continues to prove highly popular with audiences for its features, accessibility, and convenience.
“It’s been a good year for AFN and streaming,” says Kim Antos, Associate Director of the AFN Broadcast Center, and who led the fielding and growth of AFN Now. “Everyone at AFN worked so hard to make this happen and ensure America’s military overseas have convenient access to high quality news, entertainment and top-rated sports.”
The million hours streamed were not the only milestones this year for the app, according to Antos. In November, just two years after launching, AFN Now reached an impressive 100,000 subscribers.
“I think the popularity of simulcasting our traditional satellite TV channels enabled us to hit many of these milestones,” says Antos. “Our audiences come for the live sports and news, but they stay for the fantastic entertainment programming we offer.”
An equally impressive success this year was AFN’s strengthening partnership with the NFL. In 2024 the powerhouse sports league gave AFN authorization to stream every NFL game to military audiences overseas. Football fans from Korea to the Red Sea responded with enthusiasm.
“Our successes are more than just big numbers,” Antos notes. “AFN content means big benefits for troop morale, reenlistment, safety, and quality of life.”
Like AFN’s traditional satellite-delivered programming, AFN Now also offers top-rated entertainment, news, and sports. The app, however, has the flexibility to create curated channels (FAST), that allow for interest-specific viewing and are available any time. Subscribers say it is one of their favorite features.
As example, AFN Now typically offers 10-15 FAST channels catering to specific interests, such as the NFL or the Olympics. This year, for the holiday season, AFN Now was able to offer an additional five channels dedicated just to feel-good holiday fare. U.S. military families living overseas cheered the added holiday programming available for streaming.
Breaking news events and community updates have also driven interest in AFN Now. Alongside the network’s radio streaming app, AFN Go, DoD audiences now have even greater access to timely information about natural disasters or high-risk events, from typhoon warnings to security postures.
“AFN streaming has an important future and we’re just getting started,” says Antos. “Our goal is to provide U.S. command teams and military communities with timely information that supports their local operational needs and adds to the awareness and safety of our military communities overseas.”
Jim Alexander, Director of the AFN Broadcast Center, applauds the growth of AFN Now and the larger team behind its success.
“We’re very proud of our team,” says Alexander. “The app’s growth and success have been the result of tremendous hard work, testing, and refinement. Our audiences have been incredibly supportive. Now with over a million hours streamed it’s gratifying to see AFN is continuing to meet the needs of our military audiences overseas and their lifestyles.”
The AFN Now app builds on and continues the legacy of AFN, which began service to U.S. forces during the Second World War. Streaming television is the network’s biggest technological leap since offering satellite-delivered television in 1997.
Alexander adds, “AFN has been serving our overseas audiences for over eight decades. Our streaming apps, AFN Now and AFN Go, demonstrate that we can successfully apply the latest technologies to AFN’s long-standing motto, ‘We Bring You Home’.”
AFN is a component of DMA and the AFN Now app advances DMA’s goal of providing military audiences with high quality information, content, and programming.
The AFN Now app is free and provides audiences convenient access to their favorite entertainment, news, and sports programming. The app is easy to download and register at https://afn-now.myafn.mil. The app is available on Apple iPhones, iPad and Apple TV, Android phones, Android TV and tablets, and in-home digital media platforms Amazon Fire, Roku, and smart TVs with app functionality.
The AFN Now app is available to service members, families, and retirees living overseas. Everyone registering for the service must pass Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) verification.
For more information, please contact AFN Public Affairs at: dma.march.afn-bcst-ctr-tv.list.affrel@mail.mil.