Advanced Television

JetBlue offers unlimited Amazon entertainment

November 25, 2015

US airline JetBlue has confirmed that unlimited streaming entertainment on Amazon Video is available beginning this week on over 150 JetBlue aircraft equipped with free Fly-Fi broadband Internet, just in time to entertain travellers during the holiday travel season. Fly-Fi Internet connectivity is currently available only over the contiguous US.

Amazon Prime members can sign-in or sign-up to instantly access tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes, including Amazon Originals such as the critically-acclaimed new series The Man in the High Castle, the multi Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series, Transparent, and the Emmy award-winning kid’s series Tumble Leaf, at no additional cost to their membership. In addition, all JetBlue customers can rent or purchase titles in the Amazon Video store, including new release movies and day-after TV programming.

“Offering streaming movies and shows from Amazon Video over free Fly-Fi changes the game in in-flight entertainment, much like our seatback televisions did 15 years ago,” said Jamie Perry, vice president of brand and product development, JetBlue. “And we’re not stopping at video; our relationship with Amazon offers opportunities to delight our customers in ways that have never been done before.”

“We’re excited to bring our unlimited on-demand entertainment to JetBlue and offer it over a fast and free internet, just in time for the busiest travel season of the year,” said Michael Paull, Vice President of Digital Video at Amazon, who added that customers could binge-watch their favourite series on Amazon Video, catch-up on the latest movies or stream top-rated children’s programming, instantly while in the sky.

As part of the multiyear year agreement, Amazon on JetBlue has been integrated into The Hub, JetBlue’s entertainment portal that customers access on their personal devices. Amazon on JetBlue offers a high-quality and reliable streaming experience for customers choosing from thousands of titles 35,000 feet in the air.

Fly-Fi uses Ka-band satellite technology to offer a broadband Internet experience similar to what customers have at home, including the ability to stream video and use multiple devices at once. JetBlue is aiming to complete installation of Fly-Fi in 2016, advancing its effort to become the only US carrier to offer free high-speed Wi-Fi Internet on every aircraft. JetBlue currently has Fly-Fi installed on its entire fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, and has begun installation on its fleet of Embraer 190s.

With the collaboration with Amazon, JetBlue’s differentiated approach of providing high-speed Internet at no additional cost with a variety of entertainment choices and the ability to stream titles from Amazon Video is consistent with the airline’s founding mission of bringing humanity back to air travel. When JetBlue launched, it revolutionised inflight entertainment by introducing seatback televisions with free live programming – a popular feature that remains today.

JetBlue’s service and onboard product includes 36 channels of live DirecTV programming at every seat in addition to 100+ channels of SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

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