United passengers can now watch nearly every MLB playoff game on select flights after the airline added TBS to its DISH live television service. Coverage includes the World Series, ALCS and NLCS, with viewing available through seatback screens enabled by Starlink. The service reaches more than 200 aircraft operating about 900 flights daily, so access depends on which plane passengers board.
United provides Starlink at no charge to MileagePlus members across all travel classes. The airline says it expects to finish installing the connectivity system in 2027. For now, the baseball offering is limited to flights with the required Starlink-enabled seatback screens, while United's broader screen installation program remains underway.
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TBS joins a television selection that already offers ESPN and FS1 for sports viewers, alongside broadcast networks such as CBS and NBC. Passengers also have access to NFL Network and TNF on Prime Video through the lineup. United introduced the live television feature in September and says passengers have since logged more than 170,000 viewing hours, watching football, competition programs and awards broadcasts.
United says more than 5.4 million passengers flew on aircraft with Starlink in September, representing roughly one-third of its customers that month. The airline also reports a satisfaction score advantage exceeding 40 points for Starlink-equipped aircraft compared with planes using other Wi-Fi services. Its plans call for seatback screens on up to 1,000 aircraft by the close of 2027.
The airline is also introducing aircraft fitted with 27-inch screens using 4K OLED technology. Its onboard entertainment library now exceeds 2,500 hours, with offerings from Spotify and Apple TV among the available content. United previously used Starlink for an ESPN Fantasy Football Draft broadcast in August, during which analyst Tyler Fulghum selected players from an aircraft over a two-hour program.
Starlink has also appeared in plans for entertainment during ground travel: Tesla showed a Cybercab with satellite internet equipment built into its roofline in August. Elon Musk said riders could use that connection for live sports in 4K, movies and games, although he also said the vehicle needed additional driving data before deployment at scale.
