ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT & CONNECTIVITY
IN CONVERSATION / 21
entertainment solutions that will give airlines a competitive edge. VR and AR – virtual and augmented reality applications – are going to advance rapidly in the next two years.
Q. Will seatback IFE make a comeback as electronic devices face a cabin ban? A. The number of aircraft equipped with seatback screens continues to go up, not down. That is particularly true on medium and long-haul routes. Most people don’t see that changing. We have definitely reached the tipping point for connectivity – most major airlines are equipping their wide-bodies with connectivity, or seriously considering it. It is also clear that for narrowbodies – especially thousands of ‘dark aircraft’ with no IFE or connectivity – airlines now have a much broader set of solutions to choose from, ranging from Content-to-Go to fully connected wifi and seatbacks. Q. What new types of content will passengers demand in the future? A. The content universe is expanding in every direction, with an explosion in shortform and snackable content, more highquality TV series than ever, emerging VR and AR content, and clever content marketing that allows brands to tell stories to a highly engaged audience. Content is going to be more personalised and more intuitive. This is catching on quickly with mobile IFE, followed by wireless systems and even seatback screens that support device pairing and some connectivity. Live programming – including news and sports – is becoming key and can be delivered cost-effectively over satellite, freeing up bandwidth for other time-sensitive or social applications. The various delivery mechanisms and rights schemes are getting more complex, but this is exciting for us as we have the relevant expertise. None of this plumbing should matter to passengers – it is our business to provide the best experience and the broadest infotainment options, in the most efficient way.
PROFILE
As senior vp, digital media solutions, Steinman is in charge of running one of Global Eagle Entertainment’s most challenging and innovative divisions. The company is a leading provider of passenger experience-based satellite connectivity and content to 150 airlines, with other major customers on sea and land.
onboardhospitality.com
In Convo-GEE.indd 21
8/22/17 01:12 PM