WIESBADEN, Germany — American Forces Network’s 873 AM transmitter will be temporarily turned off from June 1-30 at the request of German authorities because of concerns that the signal could interfere with the sound system being set up for a nearby multiday outdoor concert event called Hessentag.

During the shutdown, listeners can tune to 1143 AM for the same news, sports and talk programming.

While 1143 AM’s 1,000 watts of power will reach listeners in Wiesbaden, the temporary transmitter doesn’t have the reach of 873 AM’s 150,000-watt transmitter, which reaches listeners in Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Hanau and Giessen. AFN spokesman George Smith said 873 AM is the network’s most powerful AM radio transmitter, and can even be picked up in England and Eastern Europe at night.

pattonm@estripes.osd.mil

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