Photo: United Airlines United Airlines is bringing live television to the skies in a move designed to transform the inflight entertainment experience for travelers during one of the busiest sporting periods of the year.
The carrier has announced a new partnership with DIRECTV that will allow passengers on Starlink-equipped aircraft to watch live television directly on seatback screens through July 20, 2026. The service will be available on as many as 150 aircraft, giving travelers access to live sports, news and entertainment while flying.
Photo: United AirlinesThe initiative comes as football fans around the world follow one of the summer's biggest international tournaments, with United aiming to ensure passengers do not miss key matches while in the air.
Through DIRECTV and BBC programming, customers will be able to access more than a dozen live channels, including FOX, Fox Sports 1, ESPN, ABC, CBS, NBC, TNT, TBS, CNN and BBC News. The lineup includes live sports coverage as well as news, weather, business and entertainment programming.
The rollout is powered by Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX. United has been rapidly expanding Starlink across its fleet since signing what it described as the aviation industry's largest agreement of its kind in 2024.
Today, more than 400 United mainline and regional aircraft are equipped with Starlink connectivity, with the airline planning to complete installation across its entire fleet before the end of 2027. The service is available free of charge to MileagePlus members.
According to United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella, the airline's long-term vision extends beyond traditional on-demand entertainment.
He said the goal is to create a connected onboard experience where seatback screens function more like personal devices, offering passengers access to dynamic, real-time content rather than a fixed library of movies and television shows.
The latest development builds on United's broader investment in onboard technology. The airline already operates more than 160,000 seatback screens across its fleet and expects that number to grow significantly through new aircraft deliveries and cabin retrofit programs.
The live television service uses web-enabled applications developed by Viasat and Thales to stream programming directly to aircraft through Starlink's high-speed satellite network.
For travelers, the result is a more connected inflight experience, with access to live sports and breaking news at 35,000 feet. For United, it represents another step in the race among global airlines to offer faster connectivity and more advanced digital services as passenger expectations continue to evolve.