T-TV!

Good Lord.

David Gianatasio asks why stop there?

... I'd like to tweak that idea for the MBTA: Wrap the passengers in ads. Wrap me head to toe. You can keep the revenue if I get to ride for free. I’m already lining up sponsors. Local car dealerships, bicycle shops, taxi services, walking clubs. All alternate forms of transportation welcome.

Just got this in my e-mail box:

From: "MBTA radio" <tradio@mbta.com>

Dear MBTA Customer:

Thank you for taking the time to let us know your thoughts on T-Radio. As we stated at the launch of this pilot test, MBTA riders would determine the fate of T-Radio. We have heard from a number of riders on a wide range of issues including the content and style.

Consequently, as of Thursday, October 25th, T-Radio will be suspended. While it is suspended, personnel from the MBTA and Pyramid Radio (the operator of the pilot program) will review and discuss the hundreds of emails received. Following a sufficient period of consideration, MBTA staff will present a recommendation on how the comments and suggestions might be addressed and whether a resumption of the pilot program is advised.

As always, we will continue to try and make your commute better through various means, and always ask for your feedback.

Thank you again for taking the time to write and have your voice heard. Its appreciated.

The Accidental Fiddler reports she heard T-Radio announce at least twice that Keith Lockhart would be taking time out from the set of the new Raiders of the Lost Ark movie to conduct the playing of the national anthem at Fenway last night.

Will we one day wistfully look back at photos like this and recall when live musicians played on the T instead of canned Billy Joel and Ernie Boch, Jr.?

Over at North Station, Third Decade can't avoid the voices in his head even when he plugs in his iPod:

... [R]esistance was futile! The music played too loudly and the speakers in the station are set evenly apart, meaning there's no where to run. In essence, I'm paying to be part of a captive audience for a service I'd rather not listen to. What's unfortunate is that when the station returns to its playlist the music is fairly bland. It's as though the T is attempting to pacify its ridership and keep us from noticing service delays and the general condition of the system. ...

Spatch notes the absurdity that is Ernie Boch Jr. advertising on T-Radio:

... That's right. In addition to drowning out buskers and making South Station sound like a mall, the public transportation system in Boston is now telling you to go buy a car. ...

Some buskers are now carrying petitions you can sign against this aural abominiation MBTA experiment. There's also an online petition, but, what do you think the odds are the T will care about that? Better to start looking for scruffy looking people at South Station with clipboards and ask if they're those Emerson kids the T has supposedly hired to gauge public opinion. Also, even if you don't read it, write to the Metro - who knows, maybe Dan Grabauskas will answer your note in his column?

Petition info via the Accidental Fiddler, who recounts her experiences playing fiddle in South Station with T-Radio going:

... It's possible to play in South Station with T-Radio at its current decibel level, but it's much like having someone muttering unintelligibly in your ear while you're trying to give a speech: it can be done, but it's annoying. This does not, of course, speak to the possible annoyance level of people waiting for the train who can hear both the busker and the radio. ...

The MBTA formally announces its new effort to blast your brain with music and ads while you idly wonder why flames are shooting out from under that Red Line train.

Poll: T-Radio: Yay or nay?

T riders without earbuds or headphones will soon have no choice but to listen to T Radio on the Orange and Green Line platforms at North Station, the Red and Silver Line platforms at South Station and at Airport Station:

Spatch reports from South Station that the MBTA is now experimenting with driving its riders completely insane by blasting something called T Radio at them while they wait for trains - complete with chirpy DJs, the music you grew up with and, of course, ads:

... Surely this is just a test and they'll recognize their folly and drop it. Surely nobody has Written To The Top complaining about the silence and lack of wallpaper media while waiting for their trains and why can't they play lively Adult Contemporary music. And surely nobody asked us whether or not we wanted to hear Buster Poindexter's "Hot Hot Hot", which eventually started playing over the speakers.

No, I'm not feeling hot hot hot. I'm still not feeling hot hot hot. I won't be feeling hot hot hot. Stop saying hot hot hot!

The proceedings weren't even interrupted by the automated voice announcing the train arrivals. They're on separate channels, apparently, so the two voices merged and we could HOT HOT HOT! barely hear the fact that HOT HOT HOT! the next train to HOT HOT Alewife HOT! was now arriving HOT HOT HOT! ...

But think of the possibilities! The next time passengers are trapped in Red Line trains for hours on end, at least now they can enjoy the hits of the 80s, 90s and today! Oh, and no more annoying subway buskers demanding tips.