Photo: United Airlines United Airlines has expanded its onboard live television offering, adding TBS to the channels available on select flights equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi. The move gives baseball fans another option for watching live playoff games while flying, where coverage is available.
The TBS channel joins a lineup delivered through DISH that includes ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network and Thursday Night Football on Prime Video. The service is available on more than 200 aircraft, covering around 900 flights a day, according to United.
Since the live television feature launched onboard in September, passengers have watched more than 170,000 hours of programming, the airline said.
United is expanding its use of Starlink satellite internet across its fleet, with free access available to MileagePlus members in every cabin. In September, more than 5.4 million passengers, approximately one-third of the airline’s customers, flew on a Starlink-equipped flight, according to the company.
United also reported that customer satisfaction scores on aircraft with Starlink were more than 40 points higher than on planes using its other Wi-Fi service.
Andrew Nocella, United’s chief commercial officer, said reliable connectivity was becoming increasingly important to travelers, including sports fans who want to follow live events while in the air.
The airline expects to complete Starlink installations in 2027. Availability of live television depends on the aircraft and the services offered on the flight.
The airline is also encouraging frequent flyers from rival carriers to switch. Members of Delta SkyMiles and American Airlines’ AAdvantage programs can apply for a status match, allowing eligible customers to receive United Premier status benefits through January 31, 2028, provided they meet the required spending conditions on United flights purchased and flown within a 90-day period.
The latest addition follows other efforts to expand live sports and entertainment onboard. In August, United partnered with ESPN on a live fantasy football draft broadcast from an aircraft at 30,000 feet. Earlier in the summer, passengers on Starlink-equipped domestic flights could also stream major soccer tournament coverage.
Beyond connectivity, United is expanding its seatback entertainment systems. The airline expects up to 1,000 aircraft to feature seatback screens before the end of 2027. Some new aircraft are being delivered with 27-inch, 4K OLED screens, which United describes as the largest among US carriers.
The airline says its onboard entertainment library now offers more than 2,500 hours of content, including programming from Apple TV, HBO Max and A24, alongside Spotify.