Europe
AFN Europe radio adds more music to daily schedule
Stars and Stripes
June 5, 2010
American Forces Network listeners in Europe will start noticing changes to Power Network Radio programs because of feedback from customers, AFN officials said Thursday.
“The audience feedback we were getting was: AFN plays the same songs and keeps repeating them,” said George Smith, public affairs officer for AFN Europe.
Beginning on Monday, the Power Network station, which is mostly broadcast on AM radio frequencies in Germany and 107 FM in Italy, will add three classic hits DJ shows — starting with “Morning Connect” from 9-11 a.m., and “Evening Connect” from 6-8 p.m.
Those shows will feature classic hits from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s identical to the mix currently heard on the Power Network’s 2-6 p.m. Connections show. They will play music by performers such as the Rolling Stones, the Spinners, the Dramatics, Doobie Brothers, Elton John and Johnny Cash, according to the news release announcing the changes.
The third show, on during a later, nighttime slot, will play more rhythm and blues and soul music, according to Gary Bautell, chief of AFN Europe radio.
“There was a demand for classic rock and R&B that aren’t on the Eagle,” Col. Bill Bigelow, AFN-Europe commander, said referring to AFN Eagle, a mostly FM station geared toward younger troops. “Power Net is more for families. The different types of music will serve a larger demographic.”
In addition to the drive-time changes, the schedule will include an additional hour of the ESPN sports talk show “Mike & Mike in the Morning,” from 1-3 p.m., and Rush Limbaugh’s talk show will be moved to 8-9 p.m. The network will drop the “Dr. Laura” call-in show and National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation” to make room for the DJ shows.
AFN is also adding “The Journey,” which will carry inspirational messages from U.S. Army Europe chaplains during Morning NewsWatch at 6:11 a.m. and 8:11 a.m. on weekdays.
AFN officials said both stations remain a work in progress and they encourage listeners to voice their concerns under the Feedback tab on AFN Europe’s website, www.afneurope.net.