Chicago – September 19, 2026 -- United Airlines passengers can now watch live football games on seatback screens during flights, thanks to a new partnership with DISH announced this week. The service launches on more than 220 Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft, covering roughly 700 flights per day, and will run through the Super Bowl in February.
Live broadcasts span nine networks including ABC, CBS, NBC and ESPN.
Travelers in every class of service can stream ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network and Thursday Night Football on Prime Video directly from their seat. United expects to expand Starlink to nearly 700 mainline aircraft by early next year, with full installation completed before the end of 2027. The service is free for MileagePlus members.
DISH's OnStream platform delivers the content to United's fleet.
"Starlink opens a whole new world of features and benefits for our customers, regardless of where they sit on the plane," said Andrew Nocella, United's Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. He noted passengers can now watch games, manage fantasy rosters or chat with friends mid-flight, similar to at home.
Starlink already powers more than 560 United mainline and Express aircraft.
The airline has flown over 31 million passengers on Starlink-equipped planes across more than 464,000 flights, connecting 14.2 million devices. United previously used the connection for a live ESPN Fantasy Football Draft broadcast from 30,000 feet and for streaming a major international soccer tournament earlier this summer.
Seatback screens are expanding to 1,000 aircraft by the end of 2027.
New planes are being fitted with 27-inch, 4K OLED seatback screens, which United says are the largest among U.S. carriers. Passengers can access more than 2,500 hours of content from providers including Apple TV, HBO Max, A24 and Spotify.
United sponsors nine NFL teams and operates charter flights for 11 franchises.
The airline is running more than 200 team charter flights this season, including international games for the Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers in London, Paris and Mexico City. United also sponsors teams in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Washington D.C., Denver, Kansas City, Cleveland and Nashville.