April 5, 2006
Morning Roundup: Read Quickly to See a Short Film Edition
So, we've heard mixed reviews about the moving picture ads in the Metro tunnels; after seeing them on my commute home yesterday, I have to say I thought they were pretty damn cool. Granted, if I hadn't known already what was being advertised, it would have been tough to figure out the exact content of the ads, but I found it stunning to see a grainy image where there would normally be darkness.
Those ads will generate about $800,000 in revenue over the next two years, but Metro chief Dan Tangherlini is approaching other new ad opportunities with caution, saying Metro missteps in the past have caused the system to miss out on potential income. Tangherlini is looking at opposing a plan to install video monitors on trains, because the deal would lock in one company for 20 years. Such "monopolies" have been problematic in the past, said the chief, most notably in the deal made with Verizon to wire Metro tunnels for mobile phone service.
Fear the Reigning National Champions: Maryland's women defeated Duke in overtime for the crown. Congratulations, College Parkers.
GW President to Leave Next Summer: After leading the Foggy Bottom University for 20 years, school president Stephen Joel Trachtenberg will step down from his position in the summer of 2007, reports the Washington Post. While Trachtenberg is largely responsible for putting the school on the map (see the Post story for pre- and post- tenure statistics), he's also earned himself plenty of detractors (see, for instance, some of the comments here).
Briefly Noted: Post looks deeper into the crack pipe...Les Boulez clobber Knicks...D.C. Council gives preliminary approval to funding for National Capital Medical Center and Downtown Hotel.
This day in DCist: One year ago today, we covered the Nats' first ever regular season game, and our own Martin Austermuhle covered an issue that's only grown hotter in the past 365.
Picture taken by Duncan Brook.
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20 years!? How could anyone suggest a 20-year contract for video advertising with a straight face? And how could the person they suggested it to do anything but laugh?
How long is Verizon's Metro phone contract for? A century?
THAT'S why my cell phone works on the metro!
Is Metro seriously considering video monitors on the train? That would be terrible. Ads on the walls I don't mind - I can ignore them. These new ads I don't mind either - they're brief, and they're outside the car, so once again, I can happily bury my face in a book. But video monitors? This would be terrible.
I love to see that Dan Tangherlini is already shaking things up at Metro. Let's hope he keeps it up.
Also, why did Tangherlini leave DDOT just to be the interim GM of Metro? Is there a chance he'll become the full-time GM? Seems a shame to lose him from DDOT only to lose him again from Metro.
Having seen video monitors on the Metro in Montreal, I believe they can be used effectively. In Montreal, they are used for weather, news, upcoming events, service changes, etc., and I believe there are brief advertisements. However, I can't help but think that video monitors in a US metro would be nothing more than animated billboards, 24/7 (or 19/7, in our case).
I saw video ads in the subway in Shanghai (awesome) and in Calutta (unbelievable). If they don't repeat all the time, I don't see why people would be annoyed. I hope they plaster all of the metro in ads, but I think they need to charge more for advertising.
I have seen similar monitors on the metro in Madrid. The content was light news with 'fun facts' and oddball stories. Actually, it pretty much mirrored the content of the Express. Considering I read the Express everyday, I don't think these video monitors would be such a bad thing (unless it is just a saturation of "I'm lovin' it" and "What's in your wallet?!").
I prefer anything over the current signs that, presumably to be funny, create words and definitions ... as if right out of the dictionary... ex. Dorker = one who stands in fornt of the door,etc. Iw onder how many kids read these and think thay are true Webster words?
Vienna, Austria, has simliar monitors in their system. Pretty simliar to Madrid, etc. Seemed fairly non-annoying.
they should show DC public access TV. that would be funny.