Delta Air Lines continues to expand the range of its on-board entertainment offerings, adding live television to the 767-400 fleet. The carrier will offer 18 channels of content on board, integrated into the in-seat screens.
This marks a return of live television service to the carrier’s domestic widebody fleet. It previously offered content via the Dish Network on some 767-300s.
DIRECTV for Business is proud to take the Delta in-flight experience to the next level, allowing us to reach their customers in a very meaningful way – one that greatly enhances the passenger experience.
– Doug Eichler, Senior Vice President, DIRECTV Business Solutions
Delivering the live television to passengers requires cooperation among multiple parties. DIRECTV handles the content licensing and packaging for delivery to the aircraft. The data is then passed across Viasat‘s satellite network to the planes. From there it is integrated with the inflight entertainment system and distributed to the in-seat passenger screens, developed by Delta Flight Products.
This activation also marks the first Delta 767-400 to be retrofit with the Viasat inflight internet service. N828MH appears to be the first aircraft to carry the system on board. Since returning to service last week after the systems upgrades the plane has only flown four domestic segments, with a dozen international flights operated.
Read more: Delta activates inflight internet on ex-LATAM A350
“Live TV is a critical part of the connected living room experience we aim to offer on Delta no matter the customer’s destination,” explains Ekrem Dimbiloglu, Delta’s Managing Director of In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity. “We see the aircraft as the ultimate platform for entertainment and discovery, and this milestone brings us ever closer to ensuring that vision is reality on as many routes as possible.”
The offering will launch on select aircraft and domestic long-haul routes. The 767-400 schedule currently shows most domestic flights operating from JFK to Los Angeles and Honolulu this winter. Given the current coverage limitations of Viasat’s satellite network the signal will not work between Honolulu and the mainland. Viasat does anticipate adding that coverage in the near-term, though specific details remain pending.
Moreover, DIRECTV has made overtures around expanding its live television service into international markets as soon as next year. Activating the system this winter domestically on the 767-400 fleet is a good way to work out any bugs in advance of those planes shifting to more international markets next summer.
Channels offered in flight by DIRECTV include: ABC, Bravo, CBS, CNBC, CNN, ESPN, ESPN2, Food Network, GOLF, FOX, HGTV, FOX News, HGTV, MSNBC, NBC, NFL Network, TBS, Telemundo, TNT, and USA.
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