CablePulse 24 To Be Seen On Subways

[idpeaceb]

http://www.pulse24.com/Business/Top_Story/20041221-001/page.asp

“Attention subway passengers. We have a squatchflan problem on the Crenandel line that requires you to squizzitbnd.�

That’s what you might hear if you’re on the T.T.C. heading home, as the muffled announcement gets drowned out by the noise of the train. But it won’t be like that much longer, thanks to a new innovation that’s bringing more information to riders – along with CablePulse 24.

A company called oneSTOP has teamed up with CHUM Limited, which owns the station and this website, to bring interactivity to the Better Way.

Riders will soon see 40-inch plasma screens displayed in all 69 T.T.C. subway stations. Smaller eight inch screens will also be installed in the cars themselves by spring.

The idea? Give riders something to stare at besides each other during their daily commutes.

“They’ll be able to catch the latest news, sports scores everyday, be able to know whether their bus is running on time and the system is running on schedule,� explains oneSTOP’s Michael Girgis. “Knowing the 6/49 numbers and an entertainment note or a concert that’s coming up.�

And the silent ads will be specially tailored to the area or station you’re in. “As the trains pull into the stations, they’re wirelessly updated with new news and weather,� outlines the company’s Ian Gadsby.

And Toronto’s only all news TV station will be supplying much of that info. “It was about 27 years ago that Citytv launched the first fully local newsroom with CityPulse at 6," remembers Stephen Hurlbut, the V.P. of News Programming. “And I think it was about seven years ago we launched CP24...

"And what we're doing with the T.T.C. is a perfectly logical extension of that enriched screen and the timeliness, and we're just so thrilled with this fit.�

It’s a win-win for everyone. CP24 gets to spread its brand. The T.T.C. gets badly needed ad revenue. And passengers get an updated source of information in the one place they’ve normally never been able to receive it.

The initial service comes to a platform near you in January, with the screens onboard the trains following in the spring.

* The technology may also soon allow you to access this site on the system. The Commission's deal could create a hot spot throughout the subway, to let those with Wi-Fi enabled laptop computers surf the Internet as they ride.

* For now, you won't be able to dial up someone and tell them about the latest story you've seen. There are no immediate plans to allow cellphone calls to be made from the subway. That's a scheme being tested in Montreal. But in a survey done by Pulse24.com earlier this year, an overwhelming number of passengers insisted they'd prefer to put that often intrusive service on a permanent hold. The T.T.C. claimed it would watch the Quebec experiment with interest and determine whether it will one day follow suit.

[Ngo_35]

thats cool, but why not use the money to improve other things?

[MasterAvatar]

thats cool, but why not use the money to improve other things?

It sounds like they will make money from the deal (ad revenue).

[jedijome]

sounds like a great idea, but sadly some punks will probably vandalize/break/steal the displays and in the end well either we'll have broken non functional displays or they'll cancel the project. :(

[Headhunter]

sounds like a great idea, but sadly some punks will probably vandalize/break/steal the displays and in the end well either we'll have broken non functional displays or they'll cancel the project. :(
That's what I'm thinking too. Monitors in the stations can be monitored by closed-circuit cameras, but the ones in subway cars are going to get brutalized.

[Blazin_Sunfire]

good idea, hopefully people wont be idiots and vandalize the new tvs and stuff..

[Wildfire]

good idea, hopefully people wont be idiots and vandalize the new tvs and stuff..
I really can't see that NOT happenning...

Anyone ever see those subway tunnel ads that certain cities have?

tunnel advertising n. An advertisement consisting of a series of illuminated screens in a subway tunnel, each projecting one image from a sequence to create an animation effect as the train goes by.

[Bob_123]

I really can't see that NOT happenning...

Anyone ever see those subway tunnel ads that certain cities have?

tunnel advertising n. An advertisement consisting of a series of illuminated screens in a subway tunnel, each projecting one image from a sequence to create an animation effect as the train goes by.

No ... sounds cool though.

[danfromwaterloo]

Sweet! Free 40" Plasma TVs!

[Nhiem]

I think this is a horrible waste of money.

[goob3r]

I think this is a horrible waste of money.

This is not the TTC's money, but CityTVs and oneStop.

[CodecX81]

promising idea.. but too many idiots who carry black permanent markers exist for it to be a *good* idea, unless they could coat the screen with some coating that deflects marker and allows for easy wipe off. But that'd just piss them off more.. and they'd be spraypainted. :twisted:

The screens themselves are cool. They are in some of the high-rise elevators downtown. They have the CP24 channel, but also "commercial" news snippets, humourous quotes of the day, and neat statistics and polls..etc.

Honestly, my commute time is down to 30 minutes nowadays, the Metro usually gets me occupied from Downsview to Spadina.. and I only go to St. Andrew.. so they wouldn't affect me until I got off work .which usually results in a napping commute.. :lol:

I think its BS how people do not want WiFi or Cellphone usage on the TTC... Apparently people like to sit in perfect quiet solitude, while they commute.

Freaky loaner crazy people... I'd kill to have a laptop and WiFi.. it makes the commute time waaaaay more fun and relaxing

[Wildfire]

No ... sounds cool though.
Okay I found a link to that tunnel advertising idea that I mentioned earlier. It's used in New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and soon to be in Chicago, Paris, Moscow, Mexico City and Istanbul.
http://www.submedia.hk/english/index.html
check out the "sample videos"
Kinda cool, it's like a motion picture that you watch from inside the train, but it's really just a long set of screens that at the speed the train is going, appear to be moving. (kinda like the draw a picture of a guy on a stack of post it notes, and flip through it and guy runs)
Images on walls of tunnel (http://www.signweb.com/outdoor/images/subway1.jpg)

[rookie]

sounds like a great idea, but sadly some punks will probably vandalize/break/steal the displays and in the end well either we'll have broken non functional displays or they'll cancel the project. :(

They will likely be installed in some sort of casing with a plexiglass front or something like that.

[sleepyguy]

I concur with the majority here... bad idea. It will be vandilized.

GO Train would be a better idea... a general older/working crowd commutes. Union GO station has a ton of plasmas now.

[str8jkt]

They currently have this in a lot of the major downtown buildings in the elevators (Calgary). Commonly referred to here as the elevator news. Its nice being able to catch up on quick news flashes/stock prices/etc while riding the elevator instead of staring at the bald patch on the guy in front of you...

[d_jedi]

Good idea - as long as TTC riders don't have to foot the bill in any way.

The technology may also soon allow you to access this site on the system. The Commission's deal could create a hot spot throughout the subway, to let those with Wi-Fi enabled laptop computers surf the Internet as they ride.
Cool.

For now, you won't be able to dial up someone and tell them about the latest story you've seen. There are no immediate plans to allow cellphone calls to be made from the subway. That's a scheme being tested in Montreal. But in a survey done by Pulse24.com earlier this year, an overwhelming number of passengers insisted they'd prefer to put that often intrusive service on a permanent hold. The T.T.C. claimed it would watch the Quebec experiment with interest and determine whether it will one day follow suit.

WTF not? This is a much needed addition! Damn TTC..

[trini]

So whats in store for those people who are waiting for 20+ minutes outside for a streetcar or bus by one of those so called shelters which shelters nothing.

I hope this helps to let older folks on board transit instead of drivers shutting the doors or pulling off on them.

I guess in a couple of months they will justify in raising the fare again, you know Entertainment costs.

The TTC sure has its priorities in place.

[webdoctors]

this has already been in use for over a yr at the subways in Taiwan and the t.v.'s are mounted about 7 feet off da ground and tilted downwards, so it will require some effort to vandalize.

All tho in Taiwan they always have one person on the platform to supervise the area whenever a train arrives or departs....

[Mentos]

Saw the new 40" LCD ( or Plasma? ) screens on Bloor station this morning. It's pretty useless unless you're < 10 feet away.

I think they just installed it, 'cause I saw the boxes right next to the elevator... Samsung T403 or something like that. Heh, one box was sealed and just sitting there with no one around... :twisted:

[bluetroll]

yay.... more information than we already need