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What could be even more annoying than T-Radio?
By adamg on Fri, 11/09/2007 - 12:09pm
T-TV!
Good Lord.
David Gianatasio asks why stop there?
... I'd like to tweak that idea for the MBTA: Wrap the passengers in ads. Wrap me head to toe. You can keep the revenue if I get to ride for free. I’m already lining up sponsors. Local car dealerships, bicycle shops, taxi services, walking clubs. All alternate forms of transportation welcome.
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Comments
If it has no sound, this is less annoying
I can't tell from the news story, but if this is just a silent video screen, it's a lot less intrusive than T-Radio. I have no objection.
IF...and these are big IFs
IF it is silent. IF it maintains a *constant* info bar telling me the arrival of the next train. IF it is more news/weather/sports than ads. IF it has enough content to show me different screens without a repeat during a single viewing. IF it is put in locations that don't require me to strain or squint to see it. IF people can view it without getting in the way of non-viewers.
IF all of those things can be accomplished, this might be a very useful improvement unlike T-Radio.
Remember the first time they did this?
I remember they tried doing this maybe 10 years ago... putting big TV's right on the Park St. Red Line platform hanging from the ceiling (and perhaps a few others).
Of course, back then they used old-fashioned CRT's... and CRT's really don't love large magnetic fields. You know, like the ones put out by the really huge electric motors in the red line cars. Every time the train came in, the colors would go all funny and the picture would get warped. Eventually, the screens stayed like that all of the time.
I wonder how much they spent on that system, only to tear it down a short while afterwards. Maybe they should have consulted a freshman electrical engineering student to point out the obvious to them.
The worst part about the advertising is how little it brings in
I agree with Ron and Anonymous that this is not as annoying, if not actually somewhat useful.
But check out those numbers on annual ad revenue that BostonNow lists. $12m for 1.1m riders. That's what, $11 per person per year? How many riders would gladly pay $1 / month-- heck, $2/month -- to have a public transportation system with
- no ads on the trains
- no ads in the stations
- no ads on buses
- no ads wrapping green line cars
even more annoying
Is the Massport Logan radio that they pipe around the airport.
Funny you should mention that
We just got back from the airport.
I didn't find it too bad - probably because it was nowhere near as loud as the T version, so I was able to drown it out fairly well.
What was weird was twice Mr. Suave Voice Guy announced "Ladies and Gentlemen, Ernie and the Automatics," which is Ernie Boch and some guys on guitars, and then they launched into covers of 60s songs, but never actually advertised Boch Toyota, or whatever.
ernie boch is untouchable! he does what he pleases!
Honestly, of all the local advertising kooks, I like Ernie Boch best because he's not afraid to do stuff like pose in a chef's outfit, superimposed in front of a disaster-prone cartoon kitchen talking all about how much he likes to cook (and that's why he sponsors cooking shows on WGBH) or spend a lot of money to revive Creature Double Feature on the former Channel 56, just as long as he could host, or, I guess, to play in his own 60s cover band which doesn't actually plug his dealerships.
Sure, Barry and Eliott used to do their stuff well (the Blue Man Group take-off is priceless and we'd cheer in the theaters every time it'd show up) but now that Jordan's pitchmanship is a one-man operation, Ernie's taken over. Margie, The Woman Upstairs at National Lumber never had a chance.
(and isn't the same guy behind both T-Radio and the Logan piped-in crud?)
Question:
Will he take the place of Julia Child? (lol)
Ernie Boch's dainties
I wonder if he still sells "Come on down" panties?