New York Is Finally Getting Rid of TVs in Its Taxis

The NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission unanimously voted to approve a pilot program. While there is no exact timeline for the implementation, officials hope to eventually get rid of Taxi TV entirely. The pilot program is expected to run for about a year.

New Yorkers will tell you: One of the most aggravating things in taxis are those TV screens in the backseat, blaring the same ads over and over again, or relentlessly asking you the same trivia question.

In the past, passengers and drivers have complained about the TVs, according to the TLC, raising issue with the responsiveness of the screens, the noise, the repetitive content the screens play, and the frequency that the “mute” and “off” buttons do not work.

“We welcome the TLC’s decision to allow technology companies more freedom to define the consumer-engagement experience inside the taxi”, said Jason Gross, VP-strategy and innovation, Verifone, in a prepared statement. In addition, they say, the mind-numbing tape-loop programming isn’t all their fault.

Surveys show that many passengers find the TVs annoying. “We’re actually thrilled [the TLC] is taking a more expansive approach”.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission approved a one-year pilot program on Thursday to test new meter and payment systems in up to 1,000 taxis.

Various aspects of the trial will be closely monitored, including the effectiveness of GPS-based meter technology, as well as the practicability of the devices for the blind.

TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi said the original plan to take the TVs out of 4,000 cabs was too much.