When JetBlue first started flying, they had 36 channels of DirecTV and satellite radio from a tiny, tiny screen (LTV1).

After a while, the screens got bigger (LTV2/2.1). JetBlue still had 36 channels of DirecTV, satellite radio, and the most legroom in coach, but now with three movie channels.

Eventually newer, bigger aircraft showed up and they had a new IFE platform: LTV4, featuring 200+ channels of DirecTV, satellite radio, and on-demand movies, all on a large touchscreen. It was clunky but the options were terrific. They also started adding Fly-Fi, which eventually became fleet-wide.

I am currently onboard a "restyled" Airbus A320-200 with the Thales AVANT IFE system. I just went through the entire TV listings. There are exactly 20 channels of live television (no longer LiveTV since this is a Thales product). There are also no music options, only audiobooks from Audible. Today I learned you can listen to them while you have the map program open. The quality of the screen is crisp and clear, and it is a much smoother and quicker interface.

My understanding is that the A321LR (and possibly the A321neo) has more TV channels than this, but the majority of the domestic fleet with the Thales AVANT IFE is equally limited. Was it always this way? I never actually thought to look until today. At this rate they may as well just switch to streaming entertainment.

-J.