Ben Mutzabaugh

USA TODAY

Good news for parents flying with children on Southwest Airlines: The carrier announced today that it will add the Cartoon Network to its live television programming.

Southwest says Cartoon Network will become the first "complete child-centric programming" to be offered on its Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft.

"The addition of Cartoon Network to our breadth of programming is a big win for Southwest and our customers," Kevin Krone, Southwest's Chief Marketing Officer, says in a statement.

Southwest does not have seatback in-flight entertainment screens on its aircraft. Instead, Southwest customers who use their own electronic devices are be able to stream in-flight programming to their devices. Southwest's streaming video options include a Dish Network lineup that features about 20 live TV channels and up to 75 on-demand programs.

Southwest says about 80% of its fleet is outfitted with Wi-Fi and the option for in-flight streaming.

Southwest and Dish have offered the streaming video for free since the option was introduced in 2013. The companies initially said the free-viewing promotion would run through the end of 2013, but then extended the offer through the end of 2014. It's not clear if the streaming video service will remain complimentary into 2015.

When the free-viewing offer was extended in January, a Dish spokeswoman told The Associated Press that the satellite-TV company would continue paying the cost. In return, Dish gets Southwest Rapid Rewards frequent-flier points that it offers as a perk for customers who sign up for the company's home-TV service.