United Airlines has begun offering live college and professional football streaming on Starlink-enabled seatback screens, starting this week. The service, which launched on more than 200 Starlink-equipped United mainline aircraft, will be expanded to nearly 700 planes by February 2027.
The service provides nine live television channels for the 2026–2027 season, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, NFL Network, and TNF on Prime Video. The implementation utilizes DISH's OnStream platform combined with United's Starlink connectivity. The OnStream platform is designed for aviation environments and multi-sector entertainment delivery, including hospitality and senior living.
EchoStar Corporation, based in Englewood, Colo., is the source entity for the technology. Amir Ahmed, Executive Vice President of Video Services at EchoStar, stated: "With United, we are helping to rewrite the inflight playbook." He added: "Whether you're sitting on your couch or cruising at 35,000 feet, you should be able to watch your favorite teams play."
