American Forces Network Back On Air Despite Government Shutdown

Troops overseas won't be able to watch NFC, AFC Championship Games on AFN after government shutdown

The American Forces Network, which provides programming including showing live sporting events to military personnel stationed or deployed overseas, will show Sunday's NFL Conference Championship games despite the government shutdown, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted Sunday.

The network announced Saturday that their entire programming was shut down and will not be available to troops because of the shutdown.

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— American Forces Network 🇺🇸 (@AFNtelevision) January 20, 2018

The government shutdown was due in part to the United States Congress being unable to agree on a spending bill that would have kept the government operational.

When the government shut down in 2013, AFN did continue services, including news and radio programs.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said that military members who have access to USO Centers overseas can watch the NFL games and confirmed that AFN will air both championship games. The games are broadcast for free through through NFL Game Pass.