| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | United States military bases |
| Headquarters | Riverside, California, U.S. |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) |
|
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | American Forces Network |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | September 2, 2004 |
| Closed | March 2026 |
| Links | |
| Website | MyAFN |
| Availability limited to U.S. military personnel in military bases | |
| Streaming media | |
| Affiliated Streaming Service | AFN Now |
AFN Family is a general entertainment channel providing programming for children ages 2 to 17. Although the name of the channel suggests programming appropriate for all family members at any time, the channel more closely resembles Freeform or Nickelodeon, with programming targeted at specific age groups during the course of the day. Programming during after school from 3 p.m. local time to 1 a.m. local time targets pre-schoolers but "ages" as older children become available to watch in the late morning and day. By 1 a.m. local time, programming is targeted at older teens. In September 2013, AFN launched a split in Family, which was branded AFN Pulse. About half of the day's programming remains aimed at the 2-to-13 age group. During primetime hours, the channel becomes AFN Pulse, and showcases programming primarily aimed at the older teen demographic, though it remains suitable for family viewing.
AFN featured children's programming on what would become the AFN Prime network prior to its launch; in January 2003, it was announced that the service would launch two new networks, a family network and a movie network (which would become AFN Movie), beginning in December 2003. Under the move, AFN Spectrum was set to lose some of its programming. [1] The launch of the two channels were delayed; [2] by August 2004, it and AFN Movie were headed for a September 3, 2004 launch; meanwhile, the channel had launched on satellites as a placeholder until the scheduled date. [3] Broadcasts started de facto on September 2, but de jure on September 3; for a time after its launch, children's programming continued to air in limited number on AFN Prime. [4]
In its early years, programming started with pre-school content from 5am to 3pm, followed by programming for school-age kids and families until 7pm, the latter consisting mostly of contemporary cable cartoons and some live-action programming, such as AFV or sitcoms. Programming from 7pm was geared towards teenagers and consisted mostly of teen sitcoms, either from cable or over-the-air networks, while overnight, reruns of some of the afternoon and evening shows were carried. [5]
Beginning September 2013, the AFN Family Primetime day-part of the channel was given an identity of its own, AFN Pulse. The division was possible as a means to differentiate its programming from the daytime fare, as it was less leaning toward families. The practice is similar to Cartoon Network with Adult Swim and Nickelodeon with Nick at Nite. [6]
In 2017, in line with other AFN networks, it converted to high definition. [7] , coinciding with AFN's 75th anniversary. [8]
The channel is scheduled to close in March 2026, because of the reduction of TV services that AFN will deliver by satellite. Its streaming service will carry children's programming. [9]