Business Aviation travelers have a new option for live television on board. DIRECTV is launching an IPTV platform, in collaboration with Satcom Direct, to enable live TV programming at 40,000 feet.
Our new IPTV service reimagines what’s previously been possible for in-flight entertainment in private aviation, and we are thrilled to embark on this journey with Satcom Direct and bring our comprehensive suite of live TV programming to a new group of viewers.
– Kimberly de Flesco, Head of Aviation Strategy for DIRECTV INFLIGHT
The offering delivers a range of content options for aircraft owners and operators, without custom hardware on board. The channel streams are delivered to passenger devices or dedicated on-board screens based on aircraft configuration.
Read more: DirecTV plans a global push for its live television services
As part of the launch a trio of channel packages are offered:
- Base Package: Essential programming of sports, breaking news, entertainment, and lifestyle.
- Base Package + NFL: Adds NFL Sunday Ticket programming and RedZone to the Base Package.
- Base Package + All Sports: Includes Base + NFL Sunday Ticket/RedZone + MLB Extra Innings, NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass, MLS Season Pass and more.
Pricing for the service is managed through the partner providers. Satcom Direct is the launch partner for the solution.
DIRECTV also notes that, while the channel line-ups appear similar, the Inflight IPTV feed is engineered and licensed differently from the terrestrial options from the company. This includes encoding options that reduce the required bandwidth and “ensure a premium, uninterrupted experience at 35K feet in the sky, even with varying bandwidth conditions.”
The push into business aviation arrives in parallel with the company’s efforts to grow its streaming footprint globally.
DIRECTV is delivering the service through distributors, rather than directly to aircraft owners. While Satcom Direct is the launch partner for the service, it expects to eventually work with other service providers to bring the service to more aircraft.
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