View source for DoD News Channel

{{short description|Former American television channel}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name         = DoD News Channel
| logo         = Dod news.png
| logo_alt     =
| former_names = The Pentagon Channel (2004–14)
| image        = 
| launch_date  = {{Start date and age|2004|05|14}}
| closed_date  = {{End date and age|2015|04|17}}
| owner        = [[Defense Media Activity]]
| headquarters = [[Fort George G. Meade]], [[Maryland]] 
}}
'''DoD News Channel''' was a television channel broadcasting military news and information for the 2.6 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was widely available in the United States as a standalone television channel, or as part of programming on local [[public, educational, and government access|PEG]] [[cable television]] channels. It could be viewed [[Free-to-air|FTA]] in most Central and Western European countries (from [[Eurobird 9A]] at 9.0° East), Africa, the Americas and most of Asia via satellite, and globally via the Internet.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140712232210/http://dodnews.defense.gov/ DoDNews.Defense.gov]</ref> DoD News Channel was free, in the public domain, and accessible 24/7 to all U.S. cable and satellite providers.

The channel was founded in 2004 as ''The Pentagon Channel''. On July 8, 2014, The Pentagon Channel was rebranded as the ''DoD News Channel''. The channel ceased operations on April 17, 2015. However, content will still be produced for the [[American Forces Network]] and the website Defense.gov.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/04/14/dod-news-channel-ends/25768047/|title = 'DoD News' TV channel going off the air|date = 8 August 2017}}</ref>

==Programming==
The network’s programming included Department of Defense news briefings, Military news, Interviews with top Defense officials, Short stories about the work of the United States military, and Military Lifestyle programming.

As ''The Pentagon Channel'', the channel carried:

*'''RECON''': A monthly half-hour informational television program providing an in-depth look on a variety of topics from real world operations, missions, military events / history and other subjects highlighting the accomplishments of U.S. military men and women.
*'''Around the Services''': Daily half-hour program featuring military news from top DoD officials, as well as military services throughout the world.
*'''Fit for Duty''': Takes viewers through a high-energy 30-minute workout led by service members with expertise in fitness training. The show makes it simple to follow along and complete exercises demonstrated by the instructors. A military sports-medicine physician also offers tips for preventing injuries and avoiding career-ending accidents during each episode of the show.
*'''Downrange''': The latest news from Iraq and Afghanistan affecting U.S. military members.
*'''Battleground''': Every weekend, this series features historic films from World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
*'''The Grill Sergeants''': The Grill Sergeants teach audience members how to prepare food.  The in-house Army jazz quartet, the '''Tastebuds''', play the show's score.
*'''This Week in the Pentagon''': A weekly half hour update on the news coming out of the Pentagon, taking one topic each week and exploring it in-depth.
*'''FNG''' (For New Guys): ''FNG'' is a half-hour lifestyle show featuring useful advice aimed at young troops new to the military. Viewers will learn about great low-cost travel, cooking, assignments, electronics and more.
*'''Command Performance''': Features military journalists talking with today's top entertainers for conversations with a uniquely military perspective. An updated revival of a [[Command Performance (radio series)|1940s radio program of the same name]].

The Pentagon Channel also showed programming direct from the services such as, ''Freedom Journal Iraq'', ''Freedom Watch Afghanistan'', ''Army Newswatch'', ''AFN Korea Nightly News'', ''AFN Europe Report'', ''Pacific Report'', ''Eye on Nellis'', ''The American Veteran'', ''Air Force Space Today'', ''In Step with Fort Riley'' and ''On Track with Ft. Hood'', as well as live Department of Defense briefings and roundtables.

With the change to DoD News Channel, most of the non-news programming was either dropped or de-emphasized.

==Podcasting==

In April 2006, the Pentagon Channel launched its [[podcasting]] initiative, having offered up to 27 podcasts via the [[iTunes Store]] and its website.

==American Forces Press Service==
The '''American Forces Press Service''' ('''AFPS''') was the news service provided by the [[Defense Media Activity]] (formerly the [[American Forces Information Service]]), part of the [[United States Department of Defense]]. It supplied news stories pertaining to the activities of the [[U.S. military]] around the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Defense Media Activity|url=http://www.allgov.com/departments/department-of-defense/defense-media-activity?agencyid=7151|website=AllGov|access-date=16 November 2014}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' has described it as the Pentagon's "media branch"<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shanker|first1=Thom|title=Germany: U.S. Will Withdraw Combat Brigade|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/world/europe/germany-us-will-withdraw-combat-brigade.html|work=The New York Times|date=January 12, 2012}}</ref> or "internal news service".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shanker|first1=Thom|title=Study Criticizes Pentagon Over Its Plans for a Greater Focus on Asia|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/world/study-criticizes-pentagon-over-plans-to-shift-focus-to-asia.html|work=The New York Times|date=July 31, 2012}}</ref>

AFPS was shuttered in a 2015 internal realignment of the Defense Media Activity and its reporting was merged with that of other DMA DOD-level production activities into a new organization named DOD News. DOD News was in turn shuttered during a 2018 internal realignment. DOD-level reporting of the type formerly done by AFPS and DOD News reporters is now credited to Defense.gov.

AFPS, DOD News and Defense.gov reporting uses a modified version of [[Associated Press]] style.<ref name=style>{{cite web|title=American Forces Press Service Supplement to the Associated Press Stylebook (Effective April 2, 2012)|url=http://nola.copydesk.org/wp-media/military_2012.pdf|publisher=American Forces Press Service|access-date=16 November 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[American Forces Network]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

*{{Official website|http://dodnews.defense.gov/}}
*[http://www.lyngsat.com/freetv/United-States.html Satellite distribution details]

{{Public broadcasting in the United States}}
{{Public affairs television channels in the United States}}
{{American broadcast television (English)}}

[[Category:American public access television shows]]
[[Category:Defunct television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Mass media of the military of the United States]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2004]]
[[Category:2004 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2015]]
[[Category:2015 disestablishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:United States Department of Defense]]