As the first vendor green-lighted by the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission to sell backseat touchscreen monitors to medallion owners, the partnership between WABC-TV and VeriFone Transportation Systems (4/4/07 TVBR #66) will begin offering cabs in all five boroughs the TAXI-TV package of ad-supported content from Eyewitness News, AccuWeather, ESPN and Zagat Survey.
The system has been tested in a limited number of taxicabs for more than a year. It includes a frequently updated video loop of WABC-TV news and weather and ESPN sports, as well as www.7online.com content, and Zagat restaurant, nightlife, shopping and hotel info.
By 8/1, all NYC taxicab medallion owners must sign up for an integrated payment and content delivery system which, at the most basic level, provides riders with GPS, maps, and fare information and transactions.
WABC-TV will serve as the primary sales agent for advertising on the WABC-TV/VeriFone system. A variety of video and interactive advertising messages will be available.
