Cabvision is a narrowcast private recorded television service provided in London taxicabs.
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Technology and content
Supported by a number of media and technology companies including IBM, Trident Microsystems and Liquid Digital, Cabvision is predominantly an advertising platform showing pre-recorded television shows to taxi passengers. Taxi drivers are paid around £750 per year by Cabvision to run the system in their vehicles [1].
Once activated, the passenger can choose from a handful of basic channels showing sport, news and comedy via arm-rest mounted control pads.
The system is built into a PC located in the vehicle's boot running the Microsoft Windows XP operating system. The unit is designed to be housed in the new-style TX1, TXII and TX4 hackney carriages and connected to a
The channels offered (being as at October 2007, IBM Innovation, BBC Comedy, BBC Classic Comedy, The cabvision MUSIC channel, CNBC Europe, and LONDON TV) are provided in recorded format with up to 40 minutes of content, divided into 5 minute programmes, further segmented by commercial breaks.
Viewing data is collected and sent to the supplier via DAB and GPRS technology, emphasising the system's primary use as an advertising tool[2]
Similar systems
United Kingdom
A similar system to Cabvision, called Cabtivate, was installed in taxis in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol[3]. According to the company's website, the system updates remotely without pre-recorded DVDs or video tapes. The driver has no control over the Cabtivate system and individual vehicles can be programmed for specific content. However, the company behind Cabtivate has since experienced financial difficulties[4] and is unlikely to install any further units despite provisional approval from the Public Carriage Office[5]. Accordingly Cabvision is currently the only system authorised by the PCO operating in London.
Taxi TV is a more basic version of in-taxi TV installed in a number of taxis elsewhere in the United Kingdom, predominantly in Liverpool.
Worldwide
Similar units (such as MICE TV) have also been trialled in New York City[6], Rome and in parts of Canada with varying degrees of success[7]
References
- ^ London Evening Standard 15 March 2005 Cabbies can take a back seat with taxi TV
- ^ Marketing Media Analysis 22 March 2005 Cabvision eyes captive audience
- ^ The Guardian Online 15 March 2005 Meter's running for Taxi TV
- ^ The Scotsman 23 January 2007 Slated by TV gurus, now Cabtivate folds
- ^ Dial-A-Cab's Call Sign Newsletter July 2006 Cabtivate Taxi TV gets PCO approval
- ^ San Antonio Business Journal 4 January 2007 'Clear Channel Taxi, NBC team up to deliver TV content to New Yorkers'
- ^ International Herald Tribune 29 August 2005 'Purveyors of taxi TV see prime time in rush-hour traffic'
External links
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