‘TV Flies Free' on Southwest Airlines Compliments of DISH
-
DISH and Southwest Airlines announce free live and on-demand TV now
available to Customers' certain personal devices on all Wi-Fi equipped
Southwest flights
-
DISH surprises more than 100 Southwest Customers with a free iPad 2
in honor of the new partnership
-
New DISH customers can receive Southwest Rapid Rewards Points and
iPad 2 as part of new DISH promotion
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
DISH (NASDAQ:DISH), the leading pay-TV provider, today announced "TV
Flies Free" marking the first time TV entertainment is free for
passengers aboard Southwest Airlines® (NYSE:LUV). Beginning today for
Southwest Customers using iPhone®, iPad® and iPod touch®, or most other
Internet-ready personal devices, DISH is providing free access to live
TV and up to 75 on-demand shows on the airline's more than 400
Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft.
The news was unveiled by DISH's "Boston Guys" who surprised each of the
passengers aboard a Southwest flight from Boston to Baltimore with a
free iPad 2 on behalf of the two companies. Southwest Customers and Crew
greeted the news with spirited applause, as for the first time,
Customers flying on Southwest Airlines can stream directly to their
personal devices live TV and up to 75 on demand titles for free, a
savings of $5 per day. Over the past year, the "Boston Guys," have
popularized DISH's Hopper® Whole-Home HD DVR with their Boston accents
featured humorously in DISH's "Hoppa" commercials.
"DISH and Southwest are two iconic American brands known for putting the
customer first, providing products, services and experiences they truly
demand," said DISH President and CEO Joe Clayton. "It's only logical our
two companies should team up to give passengers free live TV and
on-demand shows on flights around the country."
Clayton added: "Customers using DISH's award-winning DISH AnywhereTM
and Hopper TransfersTM apps on their iPad can watch all their
live TV, DVR recordings and on-demand shows anywhere, anytime via Wi-Fi
connection or Hopper Transfers. Now, on Southwest, they can use an iPad
to watch free live TV and on-demand shows. It's a perfect fit."
"Southwest Airlines continues to innovate and evolve our on-board
Customer experience," said Kevin Krone, Chief Marketing Officer at
Southwest Airlines. "We started with Wi-Fi and now have expanded to
television. This new offer puts free television in the hands of our
Customers. Just one more way Southwest offers more value at 37,000 feet."
In-air access to live TV, on-demand programming and Wi-Fi connectivity
is delivered by Southwest's satellite-based inflight entertainment and
connectivity partner, Row 44, a subsidiary of Global Eagle
Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENT).
PROMOTION AND SERVICE DETAILS
As part of the agreement, DISH also announced a promotion for new DISH
customers signing up for the Hopper Whole Home DVR and a qualified
programming package, offering 12,500 points in Southwest's Rapid Rewards
frequent flyer program and the choice to receive an iPad 2. DISH is
teaming up with Southwest Airlines for the nationwide marketing campaign
to make its offer available to the airline's Customers.
Southwest's in-air live TV, delivered by connectivity partner Row 44, is
available on most Internet-ready devices on most flights. The live-TV
lineup currently features Bravo, CNBC, FOX 5 New York (WNYW), FOX
Business Network, FOX News Channel, Golf Channel, MLB.com (Major League
Baseball, when games are available), MSNBC, NBC 4 (WNBC), NFL Network,
Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel. Popular TV show episodes are also
available on demand as part of the TV lineup. Free TV, compliments of
DISH, is a limited-time promotion.
View the video of the Boston Guys' announcement of "TV Flies Free" at http://www.blogsouthwest.com/video/%E2%80%9Ctv-flies-free%E2%80%9D-southwest-airlines-0.
About DISH
DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), through its subsidiary DISH
Network L.L.C., provides approximately 14.092 million satellite TV
customers, as of March 31, 2013, with the highest quality programming
and technology with the most choices at the best value, including HD
Free for Life®. Subscribers enjoy the largest high definition
line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international
channels, and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network
Corporation's subsidiary, Blockbuster L.L.C., delivers family
entertainment to millions of customers around the world. DISH Network
Corporation is a Fortune 200 company. Visit www.dish.com.
About Southwest Airlines Co.
In its 42nd year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE:
LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other carriers with
exemplary Customer Service delivered by nearly 46,000 Employees to more
than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest is the nation's largest
carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, and
including wholly-owned subsidiary, AirTran Airways, operates the largest
fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world to serve 97 destinations in 41
states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and
six near-international countries. Southwest is one of the most honored
airlines in the world, known for its triple bottom line approach that
takes into account the carrier's performance and productivity, the
importance of its People and the communities it serves, and its
commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2012 Southwest Airlines One
Report™ can be found at southwest.com/citizenship.
About the Rapid Rewards and iPad 2 Promotional Offer
DISH's promotion offers new subscribers 12,500 points in Southwest's
Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program and the choice of iPad 2 instead of
first-year DISH programming discounts when signing up for the Hopper
with Sling® Whole-Home HD DVR and a qualified programming package. New
DISH customers will be able to take advantage of a comprehensive TV
anywhere experience driven by the industry-leading Hopper entertainment
platform.
The offer requires activation of new qualifying DISH service with
24-month agreement and credit qualification. Monthly DVR and receiver
fees apply. All prices, fees, packages, programming, features,
functionality and offers subject to change without notice. To qualify,
customers must select the Hopper system and minimum of America's Top 120
package. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. This offer cannot be
combined with promotional pricing. Offer not available in Puerto Rico or
USVI. Activation fees may apply. Visit www.dish.com
for more details. All Rapid Rewards Rules and Regulations apply. Please
allow 8-10 weeks for Rapid Rewards Points to be deposited.
About Row 44, Inc.
Row 44, Inc., a subsidiary of Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq:
ENT), is a satellite-based in-flight Wi-Fi and entertainment content
provider for commercial airlines. Row 44 enables airlines worldwide to
provide their travelers with high-speed Internet connectivity, access to
world-class entertainment content, including live television and
streaming Video-On-Demand, and local activities that can be booked en
route, all streamed directly to their Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Row 44,
through their airline partners, has a fleet of nearly 500 high-speed
Wi-Fi-enabled planes that operate over land and sea. The Row 44 platform
uses Ku-band satellite technology for connectivity to deliver airline
passengers a quality travel experience, and airlines incremental revenue
and growth opportunities. To learn more, please visit www.row44.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130702005277/en/
DISH
John Tagle, 303-723-3348
john.tagle@dish.com
@DISHNews
or
Southwest
Airlines
Katie McDonald, 214-792-4847
katie.mcdonald@wnco.com
www.swamedia.com
Source: DISH Network Corporation
News Provided by Acquire Media