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***image1***Decoder viewers benefit now
American Forces Network Kaiserslautern is gearing up for a major
overhaul and replacement of much of its television and radio equipment
Aug. 21 to Sept. 22.
“We’re trying to make it as transparent to our viewers and
listeners as possible,” said Jerry Cormier, AFN Kaiserslautern
broadcast operations director. “But, we’ll be reducing many of our
local radio and television services before and during the upgrades.”
However, Mr. Cormier said radio and television services will still be
provided to the KMC 24 hours a day, seven days a week by AFN
Headquarters in Mannheim.
“These upgrades are going to make us more efficient by connecting us
electronically to our headquarters,” said Mr. Cormier. “It’s going to
change the way we work, especially in television where broadcasters
will be able to edit video from their desktop instead of waiting for
one of our few editing places to be open.”
Even though the upgrades haven’t started yet, AFN satellite decoder
viewers are already benefiting. Starting today, these viewers
don’t have to unplug their decoders and fiddle with antennas to
get local KMC information. All they have to do now is tune into AFN
Atlantic Prime Channel 19 instead of Channel 2.
“The big thing for us is now we’re able to reach people, who live off
base and pick us up with a satellite receiver, in their homes with
what’s happening in the community,” said Mr. Cormier. “We were not able
to do that before.”
Before, viewers were not getting command and other local information TV
spots or commercials as frequently as their counterparts who live on
base, Mr. Cormier said. Last year, AFN Kaiserslautern produced 1,234
spots and 164 newscasts for local TV.
This is also a big deal for commanders, agencies and private
organizations that want to advertise events or information, said Mr.
Cormier.
“This new capability is important because now all our KMC residents can
receive community service information equally instead of just providing
information to half of the population,” said Lt. Erik Col. Daiga, U.S.
Army Garrison Kaiserslautern commander. “All of our residents can
benefit from the community services we (the garrison) provide not just
those who live on base.”
Reducing services has already begun with the temporary loss of the
local newscast, KMC Update, as of this week and will not be back on the
air until Oct. 2, said Mr. Cormier.
However, local TV news stories will still be produced for AFN
Kaiserslautern’s Web site, AFN Network News, Air Force News, and
Soldiers Radio and Television until Aug. 21. Production will resume
once the upgrades are complete, said Mr. Cormier.
Another passing casualty will be the local afternoon radio show from 2
to 6 p.m. when the upgrades start in August and will resume when it
ends. The local morning show will still be on the air during the
upgrades.
“There may be one or two mornings when we will have to be down during
the show if we’re switching over equipment,” said Mr. Cormier. “But
right now, we don’t anticipate that at all.”
The early afternoon show, which broadcasts from Bavaria and airs local
KMC information, will also still be on the air during the upgrades,
added Mr. Cormier.
The downtime of these services is not only necessary for the
installation of the latest video and audio equipment, but it also
allows time for AFN Kaiserslautern’s broadcasters to be trained, said
Mr. Cormier. A team from Army Broadcasting Service in Crystal City,
Va., is conducting the upgrades.
