Why so few audio choices on the Delta IFE?
Oct 16, 2019, 1:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 597
Why so few audio choices on the Delta IFE?
While Delta seems to have hundreds of movies and TV shows, they only have about 30 music albums and rarely change them? I listen to streaming services so cannot rely on my phone for music when in the sky. Has anyone else wondered about this? It's not storage space, music takes up far less space than a movie. I'd like to listen to music when flying. Yes, spotify has an offline mode, but that's work :-(
Oct 16, 2019, 3:32 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,235
My guess is that most people have portable audio devices with them (phone). Why would Delta want to try and compete with that? I personally never rely on Delta inflight entertainment. I bring my own music and
movies. It is just so easy. As far as which networks they carry, that is probably dictated by the satellite company they use (Dish. i think) and what they allow (copyrights).
movies. It is just so easy. As far as which networks they carry, that is probably dictated by the satellite company they use (Dish. i think) and what they allow (copyrights).
Oct 16, 2019, 4:24 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 597
My guess is that most people have portable audio devices with them (phone). Why would Delta want to try and compete with that? I personally never rely on Delta inflight entertainment. I bring my own music and
movies. It is just so easy. As far as which networks they carry, that is probably dictated by the satellite company they use (Dish. i think) and what they allow (copyrights).
movies. It is just so easy. As far as which networks they carry, that is probably dictated by the satellite company they use (Dish. i think) and what they allow (copyrights).
Oct 16, 2019, 4:36 pm
#5
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While Delta seems to have hundreds of movies and TV shows, they only have about 30 music albums and rarely change them? I listen to streaming services so cannot rely on my phone for music when in the sky. Has anyone else wondered about this? It's not storage space, music takes up far less space than a movie. I'd like to listen to music when flying. Yes, spotify has an offline mode, but that's work :-(
Also the newer systems hold more than holder. The A339 has much more than others.
Oct 16, 2019, 4:39 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
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My guess is they don't want to pay the licensing fees. I too am perpetually disappointed in Delta's lack of music choice. AA isn't much better - more titles but mostly lousy selections. But Virgin Atlantic is awesome. Took 15 minutes to flip through the 500+ albums on a recent flight.
Oct 16, 2019, 6:23 pm
#7
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Slightly off-topic, but JetBlue's refurbished A320s (Phase II) and the A321neo do not have any audio options. It appears they are no longer installing SiriusXM satellite radio. The classic A321s and Phase I refurbished A320s still have it.
I nearly always listen to the music when I fly and keep my TV on the map. Now I guess I can watch the map in silence.
-J.
I nearly always listen to the music when I fly and keep my TV on the map. Now I guess I can watch the map in silence.
-J.
Oct 16, 2019, 6:32 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2019
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Oct 16, 2019, 7:30 pm
#10
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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- without looking up the history/timeline my feeling is that personal music devices have been a thing for much longer than it's been possible to download Prime/Netflix etc. to a device. So maybe they just haven't caught up to that yet. But in addition...
- the audio will be roughly the same listening to music from your own device as from the IFE since you'll be using the same headphones, whereas if you watch a movie on IFE you will probably be watching it on a larger screen than on your personal device (depending on age of plane) and/or at a better viewing angle (eye-level vs. on the tray table)
unless you go for this approach I guess: https://www.instructables.com/id/Unu...s-Ziploc-Bags/
(or other airlines w/o TV screens that have put a slot in the seatback that can be used as a tablet stand)
Oct 18, 2019, 6:23 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Pre-merge, NW had an amazing album selection. One of the things I especially liked about flying NW was the ability to sample music that was new to me, especially international music.
Of course, many, many years ago, NW gave a sampler CD to intl business class pax. Sort of NW’s answer to the KL house or the Kenya Air bag of coffee beans.
Of course, many, many years ago, NW gave a sampler CD to intl business class pax. Sort of NW’s answer to the KL house or the Kenya Air bag of coffee beans.
Oct 18, 2019, 12:03 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SLC
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 166
It seems pretty obvious. Everyone has a smartphone with music on it. Not everyone has movies on their smartphone or want to watch a movie on a small device. Thus Delta providing movies on a larger format display is extremely more valuable than them focusing on providing music that 99% of passengers will never use. And the ones that would have used it probably don't end up with absolutely nothing to do - they just listen to whatever they already have. Doesn't seem like a business needle-mover in the slightest, and I doubt that royalties are that much of an issue, it's just the effort isn't worth it at all.
Oct 18, 2019, 12:34 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
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Seriously though I stream music, and don't have ANY music on my device, so I actually like having audio selections on the plane. I agree they are very limited and wish the selection was better.
Oct 18, 2019, 12:36 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2004
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I am on an A330-200 now and I count more than 130+ albums in the Audio section under “Artists A-Z” across all genres. Not sure where the 30+ is coming from? Perhaps it was on an aircraft type with an older AVOD system?