Pentagon Channel targets troops

[Tinoire]

Pentagon Channel targets troops

By Guy Taylor
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Pentagon has created its own 24-hour television channel to cut out the middle man — the national media — in covering news events at the headquarters of the world's most powerful military.
Created with $6 million in congressional funds, the Pentagon Channel earlier this year began airing full coverage of defense press conferences and other programming targeted at U.S. troops.

(snip)

With all programs anchored by military personnel, the most popular show so far is a daily 30-minute newscast, said Miss Barber, although she added that another program called "Why I Serve" is an immense hit with the troops.
" 'Why I Serve' has brought viewers inside the Walter Reed Army Medical Center for interviews of soldiers who've lost limbs," she said. "It just stops you in your tracks."

(snip)

Miss Barber said the Pentagon Channel makes every effort to avoid propaganda charges by, among other practices, offering live coverage of such events as press conferences from beginning to end, while commercial networks will pick up only the sections they deem newsworthy. "It would be propaganda if we tried to spin it," she said.

(snip)

Mr. Russell and Miss Barber said the Pentagon Channel was a result of Mr. Rumsfeld's progressive plan to broaden and improve the Defense Department's public-affairs arms, both internally and externally.

(snip)


http://www.washtimes.com/national/20041226-114855-2257r.htm

[jeff30997]

1. It's not propaganda...

And Fox is fair and balanced.

[Tinoire]

2. No lol, It would only be propaganda "if"

they "tried to spin it,".

They get the award for chutzpah!

[Todd B]

10. Er, redundant?

Isn't that redundant?

I thought FOX *was* the Pentagon Propaganda Channel?

[0007]

15. FAUX is the White House propaganda channel, CNN is the

Pentagon propaganda channel. MSNBC is right up there for the dimwits, the halfwits and the nitwits to view.

Keith Olbermann of MSNBC is the only one worth watching.

[Supersedeas]

36. Fox is private....6 Mill in Taxpayer dollars for Pentagon Public Affairs

but, it is not propoganda.

Brought to you by the same folks who floated the
The Strategic Office of Disinformation

[ogradda]

3. our own official propaganda channel.

whoa, i feel so....21st century america.

[NorthernSpy]

4. leaves a bad taste

A little too Ministry of Truth-ish, I think...

And my guess is that the propaganda aspect will likely increase after people have gotten used to the idea of "Pentagon TV".

[teryang]

5. DOD Public Affairs and Press Conferences aren't spin?

These guys just got off the banana boat.

[cornermouse]

6. The dummies. The middle man stopping them isn't the media

its the mom. Now more than ever.

[Skittles]

7. REEKS of desperation

nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. they have money for this

but not armor for Humvees. Wonder if they covered the questions for Rumsfeld by the troops?

[saigon68]

9. Dr Josef Goebbels would be proud

Just imagine--- the Nazi Party is now in Amerika.

[Ilsa]

13. BTW, who is the Sec of Propaganda in Bushco these days?

Oh right. It's all of the Cabinet members.

[annabanana]

11. can THEY get on the airfield

to film the transports of flag draped coffins?

[durablend]

14. What coffins?

Somebody died?

Oh right, you're buying into that crap the liburul media spouts about the troops dying...all lies.

(now drink yer Kool Aid before it gets any more moldy) :crazy:

[Catchawave]

12. This is Rev. Moon's newspaper?

Isn't he a Bushbot kisser upper? Of course the spin is all positive and TRUE. Heh.:crazy:

[LynnTheDem]

16. With 70% of enlisted troops DISAPPROVING of bush's invasion,

NO WONDER the Pentagon is so DESPERATE as to need their own propaganda channel.

[Inland]

17. OMG--What do you think military seeing film of amputees would think?

That the military was PREPARING THEM for this contingency more than anything else!

[DS1]

35. OMG!

[genieroze]

18. BWC Brain Washing Channel, eom

[skrunch]

19. Some schedule highlights

0600 Reveille w/Chuck Mangione

0630 Get The Fuck Up, Maggots! w/R. Lee Ermey and E.D. Hill

0900 Rummy's Roundup of News

1200 Mess Hall w/ Sgt. "Cookie" Clem Chowder
Today's Guest: Wolfgang Puck on MRE pizza recipes

1500 Bowling For Bandoliers

1700 Five O'Clock Follies w/Dan Senor

1800 Rummy's Roundtable
Topic: "Quagmire, My Ass!"
Guests: Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz

1900 Fashion Show for the G.I. Joe
w/Toby Keith and Leann Tweeden

2100 Late Night Latrine Duty w/PFC Lynndie England

2200 Reflections and Prayer from CINC Geo. W. Bush

2200:15 Lights Out

[Tinoire]

22. Urgh!~ Here was their line up today

You can check this site daily to see the propagande du jour
http://www.pentagonchannel.mil./

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Program Schedule Eastern Central Mountain Pacific Alaska Hawaii/Aleutian Islands Central Europe Baghdad Korea/Japan

Around The Services
From the Pentagon Channel NewsCenter – daily half-hour program featuring military news from top Defense officials and the Military Services from around the world

Pentagon Channel Reports
One-minute news updates airing at the top of each hour. Produced by the Pentagon Channel News Room - these briefs keep viewers up to date on what's important with the Department of Defense.

Why I Serve
Vignettes that allow military members the opportunity to share their stories and motivation for serving on the behalf of the military.

Target
Targets are 29 second PSA-type spots focusing on consumer information for a military audience. Topics include Health, Education, Money, Lifestyle, Operations and Transformation. Targets are designed to run in breaks between AFRTS/ Pentagon Channel programming for a period of up to two months.

America Supports You
America Supports You is an informational campaign highlighting corporate and volunteer support of our military members and their families. America Supports You spots are :29 or :59 and feature stories about financial donations, fundraising efforts and contributions of goods or services to the military community by companies and grass-roots volunteer organizations.

Pacific Report
Daily news and information about the military's largest command, the U.S. Pacific Command, from Alaska to Australia, and from Korea to Hawaii – produced by Yokota Regional News Center, Yokota Air Base, Japan

Daily News Update
60 seconds, 5 times a day and 2 minutes, one per day, Monday through Friday of worldwide Navy and Marine Corps news – produced by the Naval Media Center, Washington, DC

Korea Destinations
Monthly preview of some great get away locations in and around the Korean peninsula – produced by the American Forces Network, Korea.

Destinations
Monthly look at Europe's hottest attraction – produced by the American Forces Network Europe, Frankfurt, Germany

Navy Marine Corps News
A weekly look at the men and women of today's sea service working around the globe – produced by the Naval Media Center, Washington, DC

Your Corps
Monthly view of the men and women of the Marine Corps – produced by the United States Marine Corps, Quantico Virginia

Army Newswatch
Bi-weekly report on the men and women of the Army – produced by Soldier's Radio and TV, Arlington, Virginia

Air Force Television News
Bi-weekly TV Magazine on the men and women of the Air Force – produced by Air Force News Agency, San Antonio, Texas

Studio Five
A conversation with the Military: Weekly interviews of Defense Department leaders about today's top issues – produced by the Pentagon Channel NewsCenter, Alexandria, Virginia

Army Healthwatch
Health issues concerning Military Personnel – produced by Soldier's Radio and TV, Arlington, Virginia

American Forces Network Europe Evening News
Daily news and information from the U.S. European Command – produced by the American Forces Network Europe, Frankfurt, Germany

Focus on the Force
A weekly program highlighting missions, operations and people of the U.S. military – produced by the American Forces Network Europe, Frankfurt, Germany

On Assignment
A theme based news program focused on Air Force issues covering Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa-- produced by the Air Force Broadcasting Service, Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany

Air Force Prime Time
A weekly topical news program covering Air Force events and people for all of Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa. Produced by the Air Force Broadcasting Service, Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany

AFN Chronicles
From American Forces Network Korea – monthly magazine about a variety of command topics

Eye on Nellis
A monthly news program about a variety of command topics – produced by Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

The Pendleton Journal
A monthly news magazine featuring Marines, Sailors, civilians and their family members aboard Camp Pendleton and in the north San Diego County region. The program offers segments like sports, trivia, man-on-the-street and the OIF update. Produced by Marine Combat Correspondents

http://www.pentagonchannel.mil./summaries.aspx

[ObamaFan2500]

20. Does anyone have this?

I tried to watch this at home, but i couldn't find it and my cable company said it wasn't availabel.. I want this in my home so i can monitor what powell is doing with the military.

[Solly Mack]

21. I have it.......... with line-up edit

Morning line-up (it's almost 9 AM here)

Eye on Nellis 8:30
Air Force News 9:00
Focus on the Force 9:30

nothing listed past 9:30 AM CET..it'll change shortly and show more time slots

But this is hardly a new channel for the military

The TV guide (magazine) list nothing under the pentagon channel heading. just "news from the pentagon"

At 10 AM CET Studio 5 is coming on ... it's currently 9:29 CET

[Tinoire]

25. I think this is different...

this seems to be something specifically called "The Pentagon Channel".

Says:

The Pentagon Channel television service is distributed 24/7 and is available to all stateside cable and satellite providers; via American Forces Radio and Television Service, overseas; and via webcast worldwide right here at pentagonchannel.mil.


http://www.pentagonchannel.mil./about.aspx

I tried to watch it via webcast but think I need to ajust my zonealarm settings.

Let us know what you find out... If that's what you have. I am certainly NOT going to ask my cable subscriber to carry this lol!

[Solly Mack]

26. Yes and I have it

On post here in Germany and throughout Europe military families get AFN Europe.It's free if you live on post and those soldiers living off post must pay 500 dollars for a decoder...though why they would is beyond me.

Recently, AFN Europe moved from Frankfurt to where I'm currently located.

I think they did so to give the pentagon primary control over it's own station/building. See, a civilian program director heads AFN, which the Pentagon channel did fall under...until recently...however, it's still the same old channel but without the civilian director.


What's new is the widespread broadcasting to civilian households...but here, even the civilians have to have a decoder to pick up full coverage. It's probably different in the states.

They had a "sale" on the decoders throughout December for the change.


About the only thing I like about AFN are the "capital" moments...where they teach the capitals of the US and Europe/Asia...by telling interesting facts about the capital city.

I also have a German cable carrier (thankfully) and they aren't carrying anything from AFN.

[Tinoire]

27. So it's replaced AFN?

I thought it was different. Shows you how long ago I left.

I think out of 10 years in Germany, I must have watched maybe 10 hours of AFN and that was just to see "In Living Color" lol.

Urgh. This sounds even ghastlier becaues it "contains 100 percent military content". I couldn't have tolerated that!

Thanks for your explanation - not sure I needed all those memories to come back though ;)

[Solly Mack]

30. ooops..I answered this in the wrong place...Sorry

It's down a little bit

I answered in post # 29

[Tinoire]

23. Go to their site... It gives you pointers on how to get it

(though I think you have to live near a base because their pointer seems to indicate you hound your cable subscriber and ask but not sure...)

http://www.pentagonchannel.mil./

[Solly Mack]

24. You can't get it if you live near a base/post unless you buy

a 500 dollar AFN decoder.

If you live on post/base, it's free

[Tinoire]

28. That's in Germany right?

Because here, I went to the site, put in my zip code and it gave me my cable company's name & tel # to contact them and request it.

We wouldn't need a decoder here.

Frankly, I don't even see why we need that channel in the US seeing that we have Fox already!

[Solly Mack]

31. No kidding..Fox should be enough

I must confess to every now and then indulging my gluttony for punishment and tuning in to the big happy family hour. Gawds...sometimes, I just can't help myself though. It's like I'm rubber-necking.

Since the change-over, they've added Rush during the info channels (news/info scrolls) and Dennis Miller on 2 different stations...(puke)

We had to fight to keep The Daily Show...and boy did a bunch of us howl in rage when they tried to take it off. I can only get the Daily Show on AFN.

and they have a station that splits between MSNBC, CNN and Faux....

but as I also get german, spanish and british stations, I survive

[Tinoire]

32. Well I have to confess

I tune in to Foc anytime I want to see natural-disaster coverage. Those don't miss a beat on the visuals. I have a theory that they don't want the camera to miss Jesus coming down to rapture them off ;)

[Solly Mack]

29. It didn't replace it...it just took over the old network system building

and AFN went to a new network system building in another area

The Pentagon Channel is still part of the AFN channel line-up.

In the states you probably can get it from a local subscriber but here in Mannheim you can't...you have to have the decoder box.

I watch the "news" sometimes because they show soldiers recovering from amputations. Naturally, they are more about the ability to overcome adversity and " my arms/legs for my country" gag-me stories than...damn, the sheer numbers are horrifying stories...but I still get a pretty good idea of just how many are facing this problem.

If you like, I can send you my AFN cable guide. :)

[Tinoire]

33. No, no, no

:throwshandsupintheair:

Absolutely no need for that Solly Mack! You just keep that AFN cable guide in the kitty litter box where it belongs! Do not, I repeat, do not try to pawn it off on masochistic liberals ;)

Peace & good-night :)

[Child_Of_Isis]

34. "makes every effort to avoid propaganda"

*snark*. I bet they have a "captive" audience.