Today Southwest and DIRECTV announced a partnership that will bring live TV to Southwest flights. You will now find 14 channels of live TV, including CNN, ESPN, Fox, and more on Southwest flights equipped with Viasat-equipped aircraft. Also, customers who pay for the internet will be able to access streaming services like their DIRECTV STREAM service if they subscribe.
“DIRECTV’s world-class live TV offering is accessible via an Inflight Entertainment Portal (Viasat)—which is found on Southwest Airlines. As the airline industry continues to upgrade and improve technology on their fleet, the onboard inflight passenger experience stands to benefit and evolve the most.” Southwest and DIRECTV said in a statement about the launch.
In the past, Southwest had partnered with DISH to offer live TV. Now its upgraded entertainment system will offer live TV powered by DIRECTV instead.
Update: Annuvu, who helps run the Southwest entertainment offerings, says they still offer DISH on 775 Southwest Aircraft.
Recently Southwest improved its internet service, making streaming your favorite shows possible. Now you can use almost any live TV streaming service or on-demand service if you are willing to pay $8 per flight.
DIRECTV also announced it would be offering live and ondemand entertainment to the Ronald McDonald Houses as part of this partnership. This comes as Southwest and DIRECTV partner to help Ronald McDonald Houses.
“Over the years, Southwest’s support of RMHC has evolved and grown, driven mostly by the strong and longstanding passion that its Employees have for the organization. This partnership has provided Southwest Employees with a meaningful opportunity to give back to the communities where they live and work. Southwest has also provided support for families at Ronald McDonald Houses through group volunteerism efforts that earn the Houses Tickets for Time (an Employee volunteer program where Southwest donates one round trip for every 40 hours that Employees volunteer with a qualifying organization).”