Continental Airlines has entered into an agreement with LiveTV to provide 36 channels of satellite-delivered television for its U.S. flights.
The planned startup date for the service is in January 2009. The airline also said that in connection with the LiveTV agreement, it would be introducing inflight Wi-Fi services, including instant messaging and e-mail.
Access to the television service will be complimentary for first-class passengers. A $6 access fee will be charged to economy section customers who desire viewing in-flight television programming. The planned Wi-Fi access will be complimentary, subject to LiveTV’s being able to provide it. The airline noted that onboard Wi-Fi was still in the testing phase.
The initial video offering planned is expected to include programming from Animal Planet, CBS, CNN Headline News, ESPN, Food Network, Fox News, NBC, Nickelodeon, MTV, The History Channel and more.
Continental says the services will be installed on its Boeing 737 “New Generation” aircraft and Boeing 757 planes.
