AFN Europe Moving to New Satellite Published May 19, 2011 By George A. Smith AFN Europe Public Affairs AFN EUROPE -- American Forces Network's satellite delivery platform is changing, requiring viewers who have an AFN decoder and satellite dish in their home to make some changes by July 31 to continue to get AFN TV. "We know this change will inconvenience folks," says AFN Europe Commander Bill Bigelow, "But we're doing all we can to help viewers make the necessary adjustments. We've set up a toll-free help desk, on-line manuals, and how-to videos to try and facilitate a smooth transition to the new satellite." The AFN Help Desk will be manned starting May 21. From May 21 - July 31, the desk will be manned Tuesday-Friday from 1-9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Central European Time. Viewers from Germany, Italy, Belgium, the U.K. and most other European countries will be able to call in via a toll-free number, 00800-2362683662, or 00800-afnantenna. Since the process of setting up a dish and re-adjusting a decoder varies according to decoder model, location and other variables, the help desk and on-line materials are especially critical. AFN Europe has posted manuals and how-to-videos in English, German and Italian at www.afneurope.net. Click on the Eurobird 9A icon for the manuals and videos. Direct-to-home viewers will need to reconfigure their home decoder and realign their satellite dish from the current satellite Hotbird 6/9 at 13 degrees East, to the new satellite, Eurobird 9A (EB9A) at 9 degrees East. The move to the EB9A satellite positions AFN to better serve the audience in the future. For more information or questions about this satellite change, please visit www.afneurope.net or give the AFN Help Desk a call.