Steve GadFly

Point taken since (according to FM) around 500 segments were on regional/non-jet equipment .

flyzabit

If you are in coach, and you don't feel like shelling out $6 for DirectTV, then you are back to reading or working. I can see having a basic product on a 4 hour flight, and then charging for premium such as DirectTV, but not "nada" included for such a long flight.

cova

The good and the bad - is that it is live TV. If you are flying mid-day - there may not be anything on TV you want to watch. If you are flying in the evening - maybe there is a game, special event show, American Idol or what ever are the more popular shows.

When I was on the flight from IAH-SFO last weekend and Jim Compton was on the flight - we spoke about Direct TV. One of the issues is that people do not know what is on TV. So CO is looking at presenting a list of shows on the display - so you can see what is playing and it may make it more desireable for you to watch - this is just a software upgrade. Maybe the Oscars are on TV and you might decide to watch that.

The issue I see is the stored content - which doesn't change much. CO has about 4 stored movies - but they have to pay a fee for those - but they do not change as much as the current Movie system. Also the Showtime Series are stored and they repeat as well.

I flew 17 long haul segments last month and about 1/2 had Direct TV - but same stored content. And if you are flying in the morning or mid-day not much of interest on TV.

HobokenFlyer

Actually, what I wish for is either numerical buttons or at least a "LAST CHANNEL" button, to avoid commercials, I usually flip back and forth, and cycling through ALL the channels is quite a pain.

tvetter01

Without numerican buttons, a "LAST CHANNEL" button doesn't do a whole lot of good.

paramount

Agreed.
I hate that!

HobokenFlyer

not if you use the guide; but yes, using the up/down channel button, you are correct.

buckeyefanflyer

Do you think they will put Direct TV in any RJ's.

tv_man

I think the 'Back' button on the remote/PCU will perform the 'last channel' functionality that you're looking for.

sbm12

And some folks like watching daytime TV but can't stand prime time lineups.
No. Not enough potential profit for the cost of fitting the aircraft, among other things.

radonc1

I am continually amazed by what people will or will not pay for. If we consider an average one way ticket on a TV equipped flight costs $100 (and I am being very conservative on this), the cost of TV is 6%, or probably less than what we pay in sales tax for any purchase (that is taxable). Yet I routinely see people on 4 hour flights refuse to pay the $6 because....???(insert your reason).

So people say we should get free entertainment and point at other airlines that provide free "entertainment". Yet you may pay $8-10 for something to eat on that carrier and no one even factors that into the equation when CO provides your meals for free. Is that a wash? Who knows?

I am with BigPoppa on this. It's $6. Get over it or don't use it.

Ysitincoach

In talking with friends, relatives and even strangers next to me on flights I find the average flyer has no clue what really goes into the cost of the airline ticket.

Most tend to take a view of the airlines, as many in Washington take a view of capitalism, as evil corporations that are only out to get you for fees, extra costs, intentional cancellations of flights and that they go out of their way to inconvenience you. None of those types would ever see the DirecTV offerings as 3-6% of what they paid for their ticket, as most assume the airline should provide it free.


As for the original topic here, I think we need to refer to the "Too Many Elites," thread. CO can even admit that they have too many elites to comp DirecTV on mainline flights, and that in the end they'd lose on their investment in this program. I guess with these penny pinchers we should consider it lucky that we get DirecTV comp'd when flying in domestic F.

Although, with CO's recent change in the EUA process, free DirecTV for elites would be a nice consolation.

cova

I am not sure how it works - but if I were to guess - CO likely has to pay a fee to DirectTV for each FC seat that has it. Maybe even $5 per seat per flight? Anyone know?

dlen111

getting back to the post on, time of day programming......

what is cheaper for airlines? DTV or AVOD?

there are quite a lot of people who would find nothing amusing on daytime TV. even sat tv. however, AVOD offers so many more options that may be more mind stimulating than sat tv.

i absolutely love the 752's b/c of the AVOD. the 739's are OK with DTV, but the 752's..... way cooler.

cova

I agree. Another drawback to the stored content on DTV is that it runs on a schedule - so you have to watch it like a non-AVOD equipped movie flight. Plus if the crew makes an announcement the sound is cut off but the picture is not frozen.