PTSC launches television screens at City Gate
By RESHMA BAAL Thursday, August 18 2011
As part of its re-branding drive, and in an attempt to renew public confidence in the public transport system, the Public Transport Service Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (PTSC) has embarked on a number of initiatives to improve its service.
One such initiative is the installation of 16 LCD screens throughout PTSC hubs in Trinidad and Tobago which will allow passengers to view television content 24 hours a day via the Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) and Click Media.
“For the first time in the region, passengers will be able to view breaking local and international stories, weather updates, entertainment and bus schedules while they wait for their bus,” director of PTSC’s board, Ashvani Mahabir said.
At the launch of the service yesterday at City Gate in Port-of-Spain, PTSC’s deputy general manager of marketing and communications Carl Ramdeo said the service came at no cost to the PTSC as it was funded by CNMG and Click Media.
“We hope that this will increase revenue as our advertising would be increased greatly. In City Gate hub alone we have some 150,000 persons pass through on a daily basis,” he said.
Richard Lewis, managing director of Label House Group, which has responsibility for Click Media said the screens installed at the Sangre Grande, Scarborough, Point Fortin, San Fernando and City Gate hubs should bring in an additional three million viewers every month.
Ken Ali, CEO of CNMG also announced CNMG has begun to deliver more news content even as it developed a “customised news product” specifically for those who used the water taxi service.
Ravi Ratiram, deputy general manager of properties at PTSC said passengers could look forward to “real time” displays of bus schedules as well as get information on the number of seats available on each bus.
“This would be implemented soon. Also coming soon would be text alerts where passengers can text to find out schedules without coming to the hub. It is the age of information and we have to use it,” he said.
Permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry, Myrna Thompson said the new television network would bring PTSC on par with transportation systems as the rest of the world.
Thompson also announced that PTSC will soon establish hubs in Siparia and Rio Claro in order to better serve commuters.
She also said PTSC’s “rigorous” repair and maintenance programme has allowed for the efficient upgrading of its fleet of buses. This would prevent PTSC services from being interrupted “as the life and proper care of the vehicles would be improved”.
“We also expect to have 100 new buses, whose financing should begin in the new fiscal year,” Thompson said.
