Did American decrease the number of streaming movies available?
 

I noticed that American only has about 48 movies available for viewing on their aircraft with streaming. This is about 1/2 what it once was and now offer no foreign films at all. Is this due to the ongoing switch from Gogo to ViaSat? Would anyone know if this is a temporary matter? Both United and Delta Studio offer far greater movie streaming selection.

Skycubbie

I don't feel as though they've decreased the number of streaming options. From what I have noticed (admittedly without counting) the number has always been around 1/3 of what is available on the PTV-equipped aircraft.

Didn't notice any decrease, but I do feel the content is a bit stale and they don't mix it up much. Not a whole ton of new releases.

To be honest I've felt the opposite. Compared to last year I've felt that this year it seems like they've kept more steady of a stream.

The streaming content is very sub-par compared to AA's AVOD selection. I'm personally fine if they want to do streaming instead of AVOD, but don't lie and say it's the same, then penny pinch on content. Going for great.

I think it’s aircraft specific — some Planes might have less storage/streaming capability

a few weeks I was on a newish LAA 737 , with each seat having a lcd — a large selection of movies was available

the next day on a LUS plane, bring your own device , and a very limited and stale selection

There’s definitely a much smaller selection when using your own device vs. LCD at every seat.

You mean to tell me you aren’t excited about watching that brand new thriller Phonebooth?

This is precisely one of the reason I prefer seatback TVs. Much larger selection of programming available, along with music selections.

Sorry, Doug hears differently!:roll eyes: No seatback entertainment for you!

Delta has been explicit that some aircraft have older/smaller servers and will offer less streaming content through the Gogo portal. I think you're on to something with AA.

Wasn't there also a talk about concerns with some studios being vary of offering streaming options, since it is theoretically possible to capture the stream vs LCD seatback content which is more secure? This is why you almost never have those very latest movies in streaming, and slightly more stale movies.

I must be missing something because I thought the movies on AVOD are identical to the streaming inventory, no?

I swear when I flew the 788 a few times over the last few months I saw the same titles I see when I log onto streaming via my ipad.

Time to check into Betty Ford?

There is a difference between streaming in a Plane equipped with AVOD (seat back screens) and streaming on an old legacy 737 for example. The former has much more selection than the latter which is severely limited.

Yet AA knows they have to be competitive on JFK-LAX/SFO with seatback AVOD while the rest of the country (including those same transcon customers who fly outside of transcons) prefers to watch movies on their phones?? Hmmmmm

The major studios will not release any first run movies for streaming on personal devices. They are still ultra paranoid about content theft and redistribution. I used to work for an IFE company and the MPAA audits we had to go through were extremely rigid.

This is one of the major issues with Dougie wanting to remove the seatback IFE screens - content will suffer. Also in the current form (GoGo ATG), IFE does not work gate to gate and still requires the plane to have Internet connectivity, so forget about it on non-Continental US flights. This can be fixed, but will they?