How do airlines pay for the inflight entertainment?
Years ago, AA (and the other airlines) insisted that watching a movie cost $5 even if you used your own headphones, calling it an "exhibition fee" rather than headphone rental.
Then, AA reversed course and said that IFE was included in the ticket price, and sold cheap earbuds for $2 if you forgot to bring your own.
Does anyone know (and are you able to share) whether the Eye on American commercials pay for the movies? Or does AA have to fork over real cash to the studios for the right to show old movies?