LITTLETON, COLORADO - Dish Network provider EchoStar Communications Corporation is taking to the skies. <br>
<br>
The new low-fare airline Song said Wednesday its passengers will be able to watch live programming from satellite TV provider EchoStar during flights. <br>
<br>
Song, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, plans to launch air service April 15 and EchoStar's service will be available throughout its fleet in October. <br>
<br>
Analysts have said Song is an attempt to copy the success of JetBlue Airways, which offers passengers live programming from EchoStar competitor and satellite TV industry leader DirecTV. <br>
<br>
DirecTV also has agreements to offer its services to passengers on Denver-based Frontier Airlines. <br>
<br>
EchoStar had been pursuing a merger with DirecTV parent Hughes Electronics Corporation until calling it off in December following regulatory hurdles. <br>
<br>
Offerings from Song and EchoStar, based in Littleton, Colorado, would include free live TV programs, pay-per-view offerings and multiplayer games that can be played between passengers using individual screens at every seat. <br>
<br>
Terms of the contract between EchoStar and Song were not disclosed.
