Companies from Matsushita and Mitsubishi to Rockwell and Boeing are vying to cash in on hooking up some 45 million fliers a year. Fees to passengers haven't been set yet, but they probably won't be high as a rule. Movies likely will continue to be offered for free. The cost to the airlines, however, is major. Passengers in first and business class have access to 25 movie titles and 50 short films and documentaries, as well as 50 audio CDs.
Travelers can start, pause, stop, rewind, and fast-forward movies and CDs just as they can at home.
And they listen to their selections with Dolby Surround Sound headphones that also cancel out cabin noise. The systems that deliver such services are far more complex than your typical home-entertainment system. They potentially serve hundreds of viewers simultaneously. They also must meet rigorous Federal Aviation Administration standards and be very, very reliable, because the devices may be in use for 12 to 16 hours a day, month after month. The accessible parts are handled by literally thousands of people, and there's no repairman on board if something breaks.