Why LiveTV is a great idea from JetBlue Airways, to help them fly through a recession and keep the brand alive

The JetBlue Airways in-air communications division, LiveTV, purchased the Airfone network from Verizon in early June 2008. The purchase includes 100 ground to air transmission stations as well as any remaining corporate and government customers. More importantly, LiveTV plans to use the network for voice, email and other online services on board planes, starting with their own aircraft. This has been an exciting journey, ever since JetBlue acquired LiveTV from Thales earlier in the decade.

The airplane is an island no more
With LiveTV in-seat video, every passenger on the aircraft gets a personal TV screen with up to 36 channels of live satellite programming, a GPS map channel and four additional channels of stored content. In addition to this, LiveTV allows people to listen to XM Satellite radio, and now with the acquisition of AirFone, connect with those on the ground using their communication devices too. Having built a strong and popular product, JetBlue has now started to encash on LiveTV.
Time to set the cash registers ringing
The LiveTV product provides authentic value-added services to JetBlue’s customers. The keyword here is authentic. Unlike a number of other airlines who seem to be charging for basics like a cup of water in order to make money, LiveTV actually charges for a real value added service. The best part is that many of the channels and services on LiveTV are free, and customers can pay more for what they really want – a very sound business model.