I've been playing around with it for awhile. If you don't have access to VPN, you can try starting the WatchESPN app on your mobile device. Once the door closes and/or the plane takes off, just put it in airplane mode but don't close the app. Once you are at 10k, buy the WiFi and go back to the app. It should resume with no issue.

I did this with the Panasonic WiFi planes -- and my seat mates appreciated the games.