The phrase, “Will it play in Peoria?” has long been used to rank the appeal of something to mainstream America. The phrase initially came into fashion during the vaudeville era, when it was believed that if a new show was successful in Peoria, Ill., it would work anywhere in America.
If you look at the video entertainment that airlines (including Delta) have offered in the past, I’ll bet many of the programming decisions were based on that age-old question. Whatever was least likely to offend the greatest number of people ended up onboard. And that usually meant a pretty blah entertainment offering.
Over the past year we’ve been progressively programming movies that are more hip and that were released theatrically with a PG-13 or R rating. Of course, we’re still editing our overhead offering to content standards on par with network TV stations. And in many cases, films are edited to even stricter airline standards.
We provide a disclaimer with specific content warnings prior to every film aired onboard and provide ratings and content overviews in Sky magazine. Another thing to remember is that many films are released with an R rating due to profanity or adult dialogue. But with the profanity edited out, the film likely wouldn’t be rated R in a theater.
For instance, we recently aired “Georgia Rule.” This film was rated R theatrically, but we removed all profanity. And while the film included mature dialogue, movie audio can only be heard through headphones. With that in mind, we rely on parents to decide if it’s appropriate for their child to listen to the audio track.
This shift in the type of entertainment we offer has not gone unnoticed. As you might expect, this move toward offering popular Hollywood movies and some great independent films has resulted in a lot of customer feedback…some quite passionate. However, the overwhelming response from our flyers has been very positive.
I’d like to hear your thoughts. Do you like the direction we’re taking?
Chris Babb
Manager - Global Product Development
In-Flight Entertainment
September 27th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
I think it’s fantastic! I understand the need to make certain content decisions, especially with regard to what shows on a screen visible to everyone on the aircraft, but I also agree that a parent can easily prevent their child from listening to the audio track of the movie.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:19 am
We’ve been having a lively discussion of your movie policy on flyertalk.com. I thought for sure your decision to air the R-rated “George Rule” on the overhead screens was a mistake — that you didn’t know exactly what you were signing up for. Certainly the studio tried to hide the true nature of the film in its trailers, not believing that “America” was ready for a family rape “comedy.” And your in-flight magazine description is similarly disingenuous: “When Rachel (Lindsay Lohan) comes under the care of her grandmother, Gerogia (Jane Fonda), she finds that structure and discipline aren’t really all that bad.” Are you going to tell me with a straight face that was adequate “content overview” of this film?
Indeed, based on that description, I was willing to let my 10-year-old daughter watch this movie on a recent Delta flight. As a very frequent flyer, I know movies shown on airplanes are edited (often a benefit when it comes to children watching PG-13 movies), and I presumed (after reading the wholesome description) that this was more of the same. I obviously could not have been more wrong, and I suspect that more than 90% of parents would say this is not an appropriate pre-teen film, even after editing. I also suspect a good percentage of adults would also find some of the content offensive (for the record, I think the film is better than its awful reviews, but clearly not family fare).
Your admission here that airing this film was not a mistake but a conscious decision to show “edgier” films is troubling to me and — I am certain — will prove harmful to Delta’s reputation. As you undoubtedly know, a couple of Congressmen have introduced legislation to requlate the screening of airplane films. Frankly, I thought the legislation was ridiculous, as the airlines (including Delta) seem to do a decent job of keeping the inflight cabin experience reasonably family friendly. But if you make it a regular practice to air films like Georgia Rule, I am certain you will be hearing a lot more calls from Congress and the general public to clean up your act. You may have some distain for “Peoria values,” but I can assure you that the vast majority of Americans do not want family rape “comedies” being shown on the overhead monitors of airplanes. Stick to edited PG-13 movies and you’ll likely entertain your audience without needlessly offending those travelling with children or who otherwise do not enjoy your taste in “edgier” fare.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:22 am
I’m a business traveler, presumably the type of person Delta wants to see more of on its planes. I’m all for showing edgier movies. I find that, becuase of my travel schedule, often the first time I get to see a movie is at 35,000 feet. I also enjoy seeing truly great, timeless classics.
I prefer to see movies unedited — period. I can’t say I always care for some of the language used in some movies, but I do want to see a movie as the writer and director intended for us to see it. That’s why in-seat video, with AVOD, is the way to go.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Although I travel frequently, I’m probably not an adult that is in the norm in so far as my taste in movies and entertainment. I would prefer to see less ‘edgy’ movies and other entertainment. I know there are those that do not agree, but if Delta is truly a ‘family’ airline, then wouldn’t ‘family’ entertainment be more in line? And while it’s true that parents can decide to allow or not allow their children to listen, the act of watching can stimulate all ready active imaginations. And, if I had to tell my child that they couldn’t watch (listen) to the in flight movie, would that not create the desire to pay even more attention to it - trying to find out why it could not be watched (listened to)? Let’s leave the ‘edgy’ stuff to those that would watch it in the privacy of their own homes.
September 28th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
I applaud the notion of moving towards increasingly “edgy” content. I recently travelled from NY to LA and found many movies that I would want to watch and was happy to pay the $5 fee. I think this was reasonable and enjoyable.
As to the previous posts, I guess I agree that “edgy” movies don’t belong on the main cabin screens if they are inappropriate for children and can be seen by them. I don’t really fly with my kids, but I sympathize with those that do. Maybe a solution is to show movies that the “edgy” is more the plot and the dialog than the visuals.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
I pretty much agree with Steve R. I like the idea that I’ll have a wider selection of movies when I travel, but I think those less suitable for a family audience belong exclusively on individual screens. To protect children, any “edgy” movies shown on the main cabin screen should be edgy in plot and audio only, and not in the visuals. And parents must be ADEQUATELY informed about any movie’s content, unlike the evidently consciously irresponsible description Delta has published for “Georgia Rule.”
I am a Platinum Medallion flyer with Delta, and a father of two young children. I’m glad I read iahphx’s post above, because if I had trusted Delta’s description of “Georgia Rule” and let my daughter watch the movie on my transatlantic flight next week, I would have been a VERY unhappy customer! I’m pretty angry about it as it is.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Hi, I was the guy who actually started the post on Flyer Talk. First, let me state that iahphx criticized your policy more than anyone else’s. I cannot say that I disagree more with him. I trust Delta and for that matter any airline to make the right call regarding in-flight entertainment. True, I don’t believe that you should show a movie with obvious nudity, like in Georgia Rule, however, as you stated, you edit out all that content. Though I didn’t actually see the movie on Delta, I still trust you to provide an adequate description and edit out all the bad stuff. Though I think iahphx went a little overboard with his ideas, I still think that he had somewhat good ideas. I don’t believe, however, that Congress should have anymore involvement in airline affairs. Already, they’ve decided to wade and start regulating delays and I firmly believe that the more involved they, the less the airline industry will grow. True, I don’t think that delays or bad in-flight entertainment, but in the end we’re all human beings and we should trust one another that we’ll take care of editing out the nudity or dealing with the delays.
But above all, I think that AVOD is the way to go, however for now Delta should be somewhat careful in not angering the public.
-AirBrit
September 28th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Show the movies unedited. Airlines have been showing G-rated movies for much too long. Allow the parents to decide if a movie is appropriate for THEIR children rather than corporate America having the last say-so.
September 29th, 2007 at 6:23 am
First off, since we’re showing off our Medallion statuses, I just made Silver Medallion and I fly Delta every chance I get
I agree with the parents and family members on this one, if we are talking about cabin-wide screens. I don’t think anything over PG-13 should ever be shown on cabin-wide screens because everyone ends up staring at the pictures, wether we like it or not, and I dont think parents need to be staying awake during the entire flight making sure with one eye nothing ‘offensive’ comes on the screen and with the other hoping their kids are more intrested with the coloring books.
TriStar_Fan’s stance makes sense in a AVOD type of scenario. But as discussed in other parts of this blog, most of Delta’s fleet is still cabin-wide video, and hence I think Delta should never put up images that they wouldnt want their own 4-year-old to look at, because lets face it, in a cabin with very little visual stimulation, all eyes wander towards the “screen”.
One thing Delta could make a little “edgier” is the 3-D graphics of the Delta plane landing in the navigation info screens. The current animation is very, very, VERY lame!
September 29th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I am not exactly a prude by any means but I strongly feel that if a movie is to be shown on the old overhead systems then they should be appropriate for ALL ages, meaning that there should be nothing offensive to a parent traveling with a child. That is the beauty of the individual entertainment units where a passenger can select numerous offerings and in that situation you should offer UNEDITED edgy and otherwise motion pictures and TV shows, along with children’s programming and young adult shows.
Sam
September 30th, 2007 at 5:59 am
one thought to remember is that even with AVOD, in Economy class its very easy to see what other people watch, and that means kids will most likely see it too, hence the reason I wouldnt want totally unedited versions shown, especaially if they show explicit violence or sex.
September 30th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Absolutely I want edgier, racier, unedited movies. It really irks me to have to watch a movie that’s been “watered down” because a few people have a problem with it.
As great as this country is, we have such a backwards notion of what’s “acceptable” vs. “not acceptable”, often in the name of children or the so-called “righteous” people. It’s perfectly ok to show on commercial television a movie where 20 people are slaughtered in the first 30 minutes, but god forbid there’s a nip slip or there’s mention of one of the seven banned words.
Anybody who argues “we need to be careful because of the children”… WAKE UP!! Unless you decide to homeschool them on a remote Montana mountain, kids today are being exposed to these things, largely through their peer group, like it or not. If you think we need to continue this nonsensical practice of “childproofing” movies as they were in their original form to cater to forum such as on an airplane where a child “might” see some, you’re fooling yourself. That’s reality today, like it or not. The barn door has been open and the horses are long gone.
I think rather than try to shield children from the ubiquitous sex and violence in todays movies, parents need to sit down and watch it with them, communicate with them to help them understand that what they see in movies isn’t always the way it is in reality. Then if they happen to see images from a racier film shown on an airplane, it’ll minimize the shock value that so many are up in arms about.
October 1st, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Im not against unedited racy movies on aircraft because I’m a child or for the children, but because I dont want to be forced to watch it. The images are open for all to see and should be done in consideration of everyone especially when Delta has mostly cabin-overhead video.
If you want racier, edgier, unedited R-rated movies, then grab a portable DVD player and watch them yourself- no one is stopping you from that.
October 1st, 2007 at 7:16 pm
I like that you’re getting away from the “typical” airline movies, but I’d like to point out two larger issues here. 1) Movies about Alzheimer’s (Away From Her) and family rape are too serious to be enjoyed at 37,000 feet. After the hassle and stress of getting onto a plane, people want comedies and maybe an adventure movie or two. There is a happy medium between the same old watered down family comedy junk airlines typically play and these mature, serious themes you selected for September. 2) Let’s face it, you can’t please everyone. I watched Harry Potter on one of your flights this morning and that’s EXACTLY the kind of happy medium you need to strive for - it was a great film with something for everyone. I’ve flown over 100,000 miles with you guys recently and I keep hearing about in-seat personal entertainment systems, but I have yet to experience them. How about giving us a date when they’ll be installed?
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Hi everyone,
I appreciate the feedback and wanted to comment on some of the themes.
First, it’s pretty clear (and not at all surprising) that opinions vary greatly from person to person on what is acceptable content for the overhead screens.
One comment suggested we offer content that is appropriate for every passenger, which would mean G-rated movies only. I don’t think that’s a realistic solution as there are very few Hollywood movies released with a G rating these days. Delta offers four overhead movies per month – 48 a year – so trying to fill that schedule with recent, G rated movies would be impossible.
On the other hand, I received a recent comment from a customer who was disappointed in our decision to air “Shrek the Third” and “Fantastic Four - Rise of the Silver Surfer” on the overhead screens.
What we want to ensure is that we’re providing a balance between quality entertainment geared toward our adult customers – which make up approximately 96% of our passengers – and content that is OK for our younger flyers.
This blog was created as a way to connect more directly with our customers and to share information in both directions. So with that in mind, let’s try and find a comfortable middle ground.
I’d like to hear your ideas and solutions…but remember to keep the dialogue constructive and the solutions realistic.
Thanks!
Chris-
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Agree, give us edgier stuff, Chris, it’s the right direction entirely. Where something is potentially offensive, small screens only. Most important, though, is just telling people what they’ll get. It’s not hard to determine what entertainment might send the family people around the twist, and which films and other shows are fine. Where you think there may be an issue, just say so — before it airs with a warning slide or two, in the Sky listings and even with an announcement if need be. As usual, communication is the real key — getting up front on it and saying “this might be one to consider” is all it takes. Happily, we’re not flying in as white-bread/homogeneous world as we once did. Diversity, including choices in the nature and content of such things, is important to have. Almost any misunderstanding or bad surprise can be headed off with a little warning.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:08 pm
I personaly don’t have a problem with showing R rated movies , but I think you should limit movies on the overheads to PG-13 or less. Not so much becuase the content con be questionable but to protet yourself from whiny parents because when something is rated it’s given both a letter and a reason, but most people just look at the letter. So when something is rated R for adult language people just see the R and start complaingn about it being inappropriate.
Now on the PTVs I think anything is fare game, since you can choose not to watch the R or TV-MA rated materials.
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Chris from Delta,
I’m surprised by your comment. I don’t see anyone asking for G movies here, do you and certainly that’s not the focus of passenger concerns.
We’re asking for edgier content that doesn’t have to have violent or nude visuals (or can have them edited out).
Are you really saying that the only two options Delta can offer are either G movies or movies loaded with violence and nudity?
There are tons of movies that are PG or that are PG-13 that don’t rely upon inappropriate visuals that kids have to watch.
Steve R.
October 5th, 2007 at 12:46 am
As a parent who travels with a 3 year old and kid DVDs in hand, it is very difficult to get your child not to look at an overhead screen playing, for example, The Simpson’s (showing say a less than desirable itchy and scratchy show), even if the DVD player is right in front of them. We’re not talking about extreme violence, but enough to require a parental interjection of “that’s not nice” as my child is drawn to watch despite my efforts to quietly distract.
Not a huge issue in this instance, but more violent fare on the overhead screens would bother me.
However, if the Georgia Rule movie had been properly described (which appears to be in question per above posts), I believe that type of movie (mature in language/plot but not in visuals) should be fine. I recall watching the R-rated “Thank You For Smoking” on an AVOD on Delta and this movie had zero visual appeal for my child (and zero audio as I was the one with the headphones), but was most assuredly adult in content/plot.
October 7th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I’m sorry, but the moderator’s idea of finding a “comfortable middle ground” strikes me as disingenuous at best. There was a “comfortable middle ground” BEFORE Delta decided that wasn’t good enough and started showing R-rated movies on the overhead screens (without proper warning, no less).
The “middle ground” is to show films rated no “higher” than PG-13 (edited for airline viewing). This has been the industry practice for years, and seems to satisfy the vast majority of customers while offending the fewest. On planes equipped with individual inflight-entertainment-systems, the showing of edited, “edgier” R movies — along with many other films, including family-friendly entertainment — is widely seen as appropriate.
All Delta needs to do is apologize for abandoning this standard, and return to it. Matter closed. Why Delta wants to make an issue out of something that shouldn’t be is beyond comprehension.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Sorry to post off-topic, but I can’t find a better place to post my commnet about a recent trip. Feel free to move to a more appropriate thread.
Delta, PLEASE do something about the audio volume of the PA of your new 757A aircraft!! It is painfully loud. I have flown on this AC twice in the last two weeks, and I am almost deaf as a result. I spoke with the Captain the first time, but came away less than convinced that he would even report my complaint. I am a loyal Delta flyer and want to keep it that way, but you are making choosing the competition a matter of how much of my hearing do I want to lose before I start making changes.
Regards,
Stephen D
October 8th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Has anyone flown the 767-200 to Dublin, I am trying to determine if it the usual BE or the upgraded BE.
October 9th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
What I would really like to have is an equivalent to Channel 9 on United. This audio channel allows you to listen in to all of the communication between your pilots and the ATC. Give me this, and a GPS output showing the position of my plane and I’m HAPPY.
Signed Blue Voyager - Gold Medallion Member
October 9th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
movie choices need to be made more widely available by installing video capability in more planes - I fly out of Fort Lauderdale, and movie choices are only available in first class.
October 9th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Hi everyone…it seems that many of the posts here are primarily concerned about the MPAA rating. I want to emphasize that there are edited R-rated movies that are acceptable for network television and airline use. Whether a film is PG, PG-13 or R isn’t the issue…it’s the content. And we edit the films, we show, regardless of MPAA rating, to strict standards.
Steven R. — Regarding your post…I was referencing this comment from Samftla:
“I strongly feel that if a movie is to be shown on the old overhead systems then they should be appropriate for ALL ages, meaning that there should be nothing offensive to a parent traveling with a child.”
I took that to mean Samftla would like to see only G rated films onboard as they are the only MPAA rated films that are suitable for all audiences.
bluevoayager77 — I agree…I’d like to see an integrated moving map, an ATC/flight deck channel and a “look ahead/look down” camera. Stay tuned…
W4epi — I’ll pass your comment on to our Cabin Maintenance group and Panasonic engineers.
Keep the comments coming!
Chris-
October 15th, 2007 at 2:00 am
Chris, sorry to bug you on this post instead of the AVOD entertainment post, but there have been a lot of interesting comments and questions over there since your last response, and I’m sure we’re all eager to know your answers. It’s true that posting is by now a little stale, but is there a different way we can get answers to these questions, or am I simply being impatient?
Thanks,
Jon
October 15th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Keep the adult movies comming, it is nice to see the movies that the majority of passengers want to watch.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
In response to #2, I wouldn’t depend on the in-flight entertainment at any point no matter what’s showing to occupy my child. As a parent of three (9, 11, & 14), they bring along their own personal DVD players, MP3 players, Game Boy’s, and/or whatever else they’ll need. Just like our TV and PC at home, we strictly screen what our kids see and listen to as much as we can. Just as I don’t was Washington regulating what I can access on my home DirecTV, I don’t want them regulating what Delta can show for its majority adult audience… I personally enjoy being able to watch a film like “Georgia Rule” (which I did watch on Delta last week). Keep up the good work and first-run movies!
October 29th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I like the movies. My suggestion is can’t we see different TV shows when flying domestically on flights less than 2 hours. I have seen the same episode of Ugly Betty 3 times this month - a little variety would be nice.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:37 pm
On AVOD, I’d love to see some classic sports games. Particularly on a longer flight, a 3 hour baseball or football game can very quickly pass the time.
November 15th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Piggybacking on the last post, does anyone know if the AVOD heading overseas i.e. flight 58 to Gatwick would carry football games on ESPN or ABC? Also does that route have the updated seats/systems in BE. I ask because I happened to ride a 763 ER down to MCO from ATL and it seemed very dated. I haven’t flown to London in a few years so I was curious what I should expect. Thanks.
November 17th, 2007 at 1:29 am
I don’t feel that “edgy” movies are really that necessary on flights. I was on an international flight not long ago, (not with Delta) that there was a movie being shown with several curse words and there was a class of young kids on flight. Again, it wasn’t with Delta, but I just thought that it wasn’t necessary. When you show movies on flights, you really need to be careful as to what you show. There are plenty of “kid friendly” movies that airlines can show that both kids and adults can enjoy.
November 20th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
This is the newest post in the onborad experience section and it’s two months old. I’d like to see Delta spend more time updating its blog and making posts.
December 22nd, 2007 at 11:14 pm
I just want to tell that I traveled usin Delta through the states and going to Colombia, South America. Everything was perfect, service, aircraft, crew. When I can, I choose Delta as the best airline. Of course I have in my heart Avianca. But they both have code shared.