Television

Television, something that everyone is always concerned about, especially if you have children!

Currently, if living on the economy, your American TV is only capable of receiving one channel, which is the American Forces Network (AFN), broadcast locally over the air, and received with a roof top antenna. Four channel AFN satellite service is available in government housing units and most government leased parco's (neighborhoods). The NEX is currently planning the implementation of subscription service of the four channel AFN to all personnel sometime in early 1999. A transformer will be necessary for most American TV sets. You know the commercials you hate so much while trying to watch TV? After a short period here, believe it or not, you'll miss them! :-) Public Service announcements replace every commercial your lucky friends back stateside get to see.

The Options...

Satellite (European) and Local (Italian) Television. With a roof top antenna, and a Multi-system TV, you can enter the world of Italian TV. The local area has between 10 and 15 local stations, including the three national Italian state run stations, RAE 1,2, and 3. Most local stations shift between regular TV shows and a multitude of infomercials, lotteries, and job search offers . The state run stations carry news, sports, weather, sitcoms, music, and programs produced in the US or other countries, and dubbed into Italian. Satellite service is available through use of a decoder and satellite dish available through the Navy Loaner program, subject to availability. There is no charge for the dish or decoder, but you must pay for the installation. This does not include the AFN subscription service above, but can be used to receive BBC news, EuroSport, TNT, Cartoon Network, CNN International, CNBC (business news) and BBC News in English, and many German stations. In some cases, Parental Discretion is greatly advised!! If you like TV shopping, both British and German QVC are available, BUT, you can only look, not buy! :-(

For all but the AFN channel or four channel satellite service, a Multi-system TV is required. American TV's will not receive the signals properly. All multi-system TV's will receive the AFN stations here or American TV stations after returning stateside.

Multi-system TV's are available through the NEX, or locally, but again, taxes are high on electronic items on the economy. The exchange normally carries many brands, and in sizes from portable to large screen. Make sure that any multi-system TV's that you buy here are capable of running on 110 and 220 volts so that you can use them during your tour and take them with you, when you go stateside or to other countries.

Programming...

Sports: If you are a lover of sports, especially football, you are going to love AFN. Most "important" games are played live, such as Monday Night Football, meaning it's broadcast around 2 to 3 a.m., due to the time difference between here and the States. Weekends are loaded with sports year-round, including, baseball, football, soccer, auto racing, wresting, boxing, basketball, and almost anything else you can think of.

Soap Operas: We have three, Port Charles, Guiding Light, and General Hospital. They are shown here from 10 a.m. to noon, one week delayed. Due to the lack of commercials these shows are shown in only 2 hours.

Talk Shows: Oprah is on daily at 9 a.m., one week delayed.

Late Night: Jay Leno at 10:30 & Letterman at 11:30 p.m., one day delayed. Movies and or sports are played after 12:30 a.m. I'm not usually awake, so can't give any specifics. :-)

Game Shows: Wheel of Fortune at 12:30 p.m. & Jeopardy at 5:00 p.m. I don't know the delay time on these.

News: Stateside national news from 5:00 a.m. through 7::00. This includes two evening newscasts with Tom Brocaw & Peter Jennings, and CNN SI, CNN Headline News. CNN Headline News is also normally broadcast at noon, 6:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. weekdays, CNN SI is also broadcast at 5:30 p.m. weekdays. The Today Show is broadcast live weekdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Meet The Press, early Monday a.m.

Children's Programming: Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, Mr. Rogers are broadcast weekday mornings. There is also programming from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, these shows range from cartoons to After School Specials.

Movies: Tuesday night is movie night from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. The movies vary on a weekly basis, but, are normally very old.

Exercise:

Prime Time: We do not have reruns here, so our shows vary throughout the year.

Comedies: Frasier, Caroline In the City, Just Shoot Me, Dharma & Greg, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Ally McBeal, King of the Hill, Family Matters, Clueless, Home Improvement, Veronica's Closet, Nanny, Simpsons, Mad About You, Drew Carey.

Drama: Law & Order, ER, Chicago Hope, NYPD Blue.

Family: Xena, Hercules, This Old House with Bob Vila, JAG, Early Edition, Friends, Melrose Place, Saturday Night Live, Party of Five, Touched By An Angel.

News: 60 Minutes & Dateline, about a week delay in broadcast.

Science Fiction: X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Trek Voyager.