Currently, members of the United States military are able to watch their favorite NFL teams while stationed overseas by using the Armed Forces Network. But if Congress fails to approve funding for the federal government by Sunday at midnight, the military’s access to NFL programming will come to an abrupt end.
As Jennifer H. Svan of Stripes.com points out, a government shutdown in the United States would also mean that AFN would be limited to just one channel, keeping members of the armed forces from watching their favorite teams on Sunday – a valuable escape for many of the brave men and women that serve our country.
“If Congress can’t agree on a stopgap funding bill, viewers who tune in to American Forces Network starting Sunday to catch their favorite teams will instead see a graphic directing them to AFN News, the station’s senior directors said Friday,” Svan wrote.
“If the government shuts down, AFN is under a Pentagon directive to reduce broadcast staffing and services from eight television channels to one, which will show only news, and only one radio station, AFN the Eagle, the network officials said.”
Obviously, it’s just one of many aspects of a potential government shutdown, but for the men and women serving in the military, it’s an important service that they have earned. And thanks to Congress’ failure to agree, it’s being threatening.
