United Airlines Teams Up With DISH To Stream Live Football On Starlink-Enabled Screens

Football fans traveling this season can officially stop stressing about their flight schedules. Thanks to a newly announced partnership with DISH, United Airlines is bringing live professional and college football broadcasts directly to Starlink-enabled seatback screens.

Live Games at 35,000 Feet

Starting this week, passengers on select domestic flights will have live access to major networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, and TNF on Prime Video. Utilizing DISH's OnStream platform and Starlink's high-speed satellite Wi-Fi, the service ensures fans can catch the action seamlessly from kickoff to the final whistle.

The live broadcasts are currently available on more than 200 Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft—covering approximately 700 flights per day. United plans to rapidly expand this capability, aiming to have the service active on nearly 700 aircraft by the time the big game rolls around in February.

• Free for MileagePlus Members: As with all Starlink connectivity on United flights, the live TV streaming is completely free for MileagePlus members across all cabins.
• Multi-Screen Multitasking: With Starlink's robust bandwidth, passengers can watch the game on their seatback screen while simultaneously using their personal devices to check fantasy rosters, text friends, or even stream a second game.

Deepening Football Ties

This inflight tech upgrade is just the latest move in United's broader sports strategy. The carrier currently sponsors nine professional football teams and expects to operate over 200 team charter flights for 11 different franchises this season. To celebrate the season, United has also launched the second year of its "Football Flies United" advertising campaign, featuring prominent players and coaches to highlight the importance of arriving at your destination refreshed and ready to perform.

With United expecting to complete its fleet-wide Starlink installation by the end of 2027, the days of missing crucial third-down plays while cruising at 35,000 feet are quickly coming to an end.

United Schedules First Starlink-Equipped Mainline Flight

United made history yesterday at 8 a.m. when United flight 2940 took off from Newark/New York to Houston, marking the first time a major U.S. airline has offered Starlink Wi-Fi on a mainline flight with connectivity across both personal devices and inflight entertainment screens. The airline expects to install Starlink on up to 15 mainline 737-800 planes each month; more than half of United's regional fleet already offers Starlink. By the end of the year, the airline expects to have an additional aircraft type certified to offer Starlink.

More than 170 customers onboard the Boeing 737-800 will enjoy the same kind of high-speed, low-latency internet experience they have at home, unlocking experiences like live TV and streaming services, shopping, gaming and more. On October 15, the Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft is also expected to fly from Houston (IAH) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on flight 365 and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Houston (IAH) on flight 445 where it will end the day in Houston.

United will install two Starlink antennas on each 737-800 aircraft. The airline is set to install nearly 2,940 antennas across its entire fleet – the flight number for the first customer flight.

Starlink Wi-Fi is free for United MileagePlus® members, and customers will receive a notification before their flight if it's equipped with Starlink.

"We're committed to raising the bar when it comes to the onboard experience, and with Starlink, we're changing how people fly," said David Kinzelman, United's Chief Customer Officer. "Whether it's catching a live game, streaming an award show or working, United customers won't miss a beat when they're onboard a Starlink-equipped flight."

United's Starlink is breaking the Wi-Fi barrier, and the new service unlocks a new way to travel with experiences like:

Live streaming: Whether you catch a live sports event, watch a favorite movie or show and more, passengers can access their personal streaming services without buffering, lag or need to download in advance.

Real-time work collaboration: Download/upload files, share and edit documents, and stay in sync with your team in real-time.

Gaming at 30,000 feet: Pick up where you left off and play live games and follow along on live gaming streaming services.

Seamless shopping: Stay connected online, schedule grocery delivery and make restaurant and travel reservations all from the comfort of your seat.

Connect multiple devices at once: Customers will be able to access Starlink on all devices at once, like their seatback screen, phone, tablet, computer and more.

United's first Starlink-equipped regional flight took place on a regional jet in May 2025, and the airline now has Starlink installed on more than half of the aircraft in its regional fleet. Initial customer scores on those flights have been noteworthy with 90% of customers appreciating the ability to stream onboard with Starlink's high-speed, easy-to-use and consistent connection.

The rollout of Starlink across United's fleet aligns with the airline's plans to have 300,000+ seatback screens across its fleet – more than any other U.S. airline – as it takes delivery of hundreds of new airplanes and retrofits existing aircraft. Over the last several years, United has invested billions of dollars in enhancing the customer experience, and by providing more value for customers, the airline aims to earn stronger brand loyalty.

Visit united.com/starlink for additional information.