Live TV eliminated from Connect
Jun 14, 2018, 8:19 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Posts: 10,068
Live TV eliminated from Connect
VERY disappointed to see this on today’s flight. One thing that made Westjet different from AC. Apparently succumbed to the bean counters. The movie selection has always been terrible so at least Live tv was an option - no longer.
Jun 14, 2018, 9:04 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,607
Must save weight as they refit to not have satellite TV receivers on the top of the fuselage. The selection was not much anyway. Maybe they want you to buy internet and check the news as you fly. Otherwise for the few hours there are lots of ways to entertain yourself. The Connect selection is not terrible.
Jun 14, 2018, 11:08 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,444
There is a weight saving from not having the seat back screens, but a different satellite antenna is still on the 737s. When the 787 cabin was revealed many people were surprised that there are seat back screens, as they have been eliminated on the rest of the fleet, but it actually doesn’t save weight on the 787 by not having them, as they are also used for call button, window dimming and USB power supply; armrest controls don’t exist and would be a more expensive custom option to substitute for the IFEC screens.
Live TV has been crippled south of the US border due to a satellite change several years ago and is also unreliable and parts are no longer easily available. WestJet Connect on your own device still has free live TV news channels.
Live TV has been crippled south of the US border due to a satellite change several years ago and is also unreliable and parts are no longer easily available. WestJet Connect on your own device still has free live TV news channels.
Jun 15, 2018, 6:11 am
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 980
...When the 787 cabin was revealed many people were surprised that there are seat back screens, as they have been eliminated on the rest of the fleet, but it actually doesn’t save weight on the 787 by not having them, as they are also used for call button, window dimming and USB power supply;...
So will the 787 fleet have preloaded content on the seat back screens? Will Connect still be available for my own device on that fleet?
Jun 15, 2018, 9:45 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,444
Same servers with same content, likely access to all content to your own device (this is configurable, but I don’t think it will be blocked).
Jun 15, 2018, 10:58 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,444
I’m out of date with my info (hazard of retiring from the company), I just checked with the product manager, you are correct, the channels have been removed due to poor viewing rates weighed against the licensing cost to provide the channels. I will also miss them, I often watched BBC News when flying.
Jun 17, 2018, 8:23 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Posts: 10,068
Live TV was also handy when NHL playoffs or other significant sports events were on. I still contend it’s one fewer item to differentiate from AC.