General Bell Addresses NFL On AFN-Prime Issue

From the Stars and Stripes:

The top commander in
South Korea wants NFL football back on the only free American Forces Network channel on the peninsula, he said during an Area II command visit on Thursday.It’s not appropriate to tell a U.S. troop who “just got his ass shot off” while deployed to fight the war on terrorism that he can’t watch National Football League games for free because South Korean cable companies pirate the signal, said U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. B.B. Bell.(…)During an interview later in the day,
Bell called the issue a “big problem.” He said he needed additional details before making a decision on what to do.“My gut feeling is we’re going to turn the service back on and then phase it out” gradually so the community has adequate time to prepare, he said.“If we’re going to cut their service off for good and proper reason, and have them purchase service through another medium, we ought to give them advance notice,”
Bell said. “Months … so they can make their plans and accommodate the change.”

 The NFL on AFN-Prime controversy erupted because Korean cable companies were pirating the AFN-Prime signal and selling it as part of their cable packages including the NFL games.  Details of this controversy can be read by clicking here.Also the AFN Commander LTC Mike Lawhorn has also commented on this matter on my prior posting of this issue.  Here is the update provided by LTC Lawhorn:

Hey all!
Lt. Col. Lawhorn, the AFN Commander here, and I can definitely tell you that no decision has been made yet to as to whether or not to put any games back on. Also, NFL contract doesn’t allow for its games to be broadcast “over the open air” and since AFN Prime Pacific IS broadcast OTOA you can guess what that means.

However, you will see the BCS championship games, NFL playoffs, and the Super Bowl on AFN Prime Pacific..apparently the contract allows for those games. Also, any NFL game that happens on a Friday will be broadcast here at the same time (Sat morning).

If I find out anything else, I will definitely let you know. 

Bottom line is that good people are working on this issue and hopefully a resolution can be reached that benefits everyone.