EchoStar Communications’ Dish Network will be start-up airline Virgin America’s primary live in-flight satellite entertainment partner when domestic U.S. service begins this spring, pending government approval.
The airline will offer live Dish direct-broadcast satellite TV, pay-per-view movies, audio music entertainment, electronic games and meals on-demand.
“Once the Department of Transportation says we can fly, we’ll be ready to offer our guests an incredible entertainment experience, and Dish Network is a major component of that,” Virgin America director of inflight entertainment and partnerships Charles Ogilvie said in a prepared statement. “Our interactive entertainment system is more than just a channel lineup in which our guests will immerse themselves. We believe they’ll find it to be an exciting, customer-friendly experience overall.”
EchoStar chairman and CEO Charlie Ergen added, “We are delighted to be part of this innovative airborne entertainment offering. Dish Network is focused on securing and delivering exciting, timely and appealing content to Virgin America guests, as well as our 13 million-plus subscribers throughout the United States.”
