Westinghouse Digital had its PumpTop TV on display at CES. As described by the title, it's a flatscreen monitor that sits on top of a fuel pump. It gives the consumer something to do besides staring at passing vehicles while waiting around for the tank to fill. The unit is already in use at many gas stations throughout the United States. While the idea of being bombarded by even more advertising when out driving is not a pleasant thought, the TV network might be helpful in exposing folks to urgent news alerts such as bridge collapses, dust storms, or forest fires. In Southern California some pump televisions also display real-time traffic data in addition to weather, news and (of course) advertisements. While that can be useful info when trying to plan a route through clogged freeways, the downside of the PumpTop set is its poor screen visibility in extreme sunlight, which might explain why many stations equipped with the devices simply leave them turned off. [Source: Engadget]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Phoenix @ Jan 12th 2008 2:09PM
Great, now they can fill my head with propaganda while they steal my money.
Cameron @ Jan 12th 2008 2:12PM
Nailed it.
overengineered @ Jan 12th 2008 6:51PM
reminds me a bit of "Idiocracy"
the friendly grizzly @ Jan 12th 2008 2:14PM
The only pump-top sets I have seen have had Perky Katie Couric (reg US pat off) or other such network pap. There are fewer and fewer places where one can escape the glass teat. They infest airport gate halls, hospital waiting rooms, restrooms, dentist offices... The list is endless. When Kroger took over Ralphs in California, they put the infernal things at every checkout line, blaring ads for various products with flashy-blinky video, and the volume at annoying levels.
I am not asking this with any sense of irony; I really DO wonder: are the public at large THAT addicted to TV that they can't go an hour without a fix?
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 12th 2008 2:16PM
We already have them at the Arco at Branham Ln and Jarvis Ave in San Jose, CA.
They suck, they even have sound. I look away and cover my ears. Someone wrecked one of them already, I have to admit I'd love to wreck them all.
chop @ Jan 12th 2008 2:49PM
ew you pump at that arco? sure its a few cents cheaper, but arco is nasty. but yea almost all the stations around here now have those. the shell off blossom hill and almaden expressway has it as well, caught a football game on there last time heh.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 12th 2008 2:58PM
You mean the places or the gas?
I don't go inside, so I don't care if the places are dirty (and some of them are).
As to the gas, in the bay area it's the same between. Everyone buys from the same refineries. Yes, the additives do differ, but 8 years (94,000 miles) of Arco gas hasn't damaged my twin-turbo Audi yet, so it seems fine to me.
CentralParkWest99 @ Jan 12th 2008 2:30PM
They need to stream porn on that ! Pump gas and pump your fist.
Bust a load b4 you bust your tank! winnner gets a free snapple.
Rizzo @ Jan 12th 2008 8:59PM
Plus one on the pr0n !!!
I'd stand thru the commercial to get to the main show !
chrisb @ Jan 12th 2008 2:55PM
I don't even like when they play music at gas stations, never mind having a tv going - can't we just have a little quiet occasionally????
ckm @ Jan 12th 2008 3:10PM
Yeah, they already have these all over the SF Bay area in California and have for several years. Not just Arco, I've seen them at Shell, Chevron, Valeo, 76, just about everywhere. Not surprising given that most gas stations are owned by independents....
That said, they are really, really annoying, just as annoying as the ones in front of teller lines at the bank.
john riley @ Jan 12th 2008 3:24PM
Also have had them at Esso stations in Toronto for quite awhile. They run adverts. Hard to see in direct sunlight.
Pat @ Jan 12th 2008 9:19PM
It freaks me out everytime I visit our Toronto office ... they should play something intersting besides ads ... maybe a documentary on how they're taking a bigger profit than ever before ;-)
Kevin White @ Jan 12th 2008 3:31PM
My Chevron doesn't have TVs yet, but it does have an incredibly annoying speaker box that shrieks out advertising. The sound is horribly beamy and distorted and hurts my ears if I listen to it. There is a Mute button but I've never been able to get it to work and I've tried most of the pumps there. Therefore, I usually place my palm over the speaker area which effectively blocks the noise. They just opened a new QuikTrip (which is also supposed to be Top Tier for what it's worth) and I think I'll go there from now on because I'm tired of the annoyance and arrogance of the ad speakers at Chevron.
If places start adding televisions I'll have to find the one station that doesn't and use it.
Anthony @ Jan 12th 2008 4:17PM
The Sunoco station in my neighborhood already has it. It's pretty cool... a lot of sports news and regular news. They call it Sunoco TV.
naggs @ Jan 12th 2008 6:02PM
they have had these in San Diego for months
Jim @ Jan 12th 2008 6:55PM
"many stations equipped with the devices simply leave them turned off"
You might try this at home with your own set for a couple of weeks. It'a amazing how much more enjoyable life can be.
T Cheema @ Jan 12th 2008 7:29PM
I think these will sell well with the branded gas stations(Shell, ExxonMobil etc), but when it comes to the private gas stations it seems like a long shot. With the profits for gas stations down I'm not sure they will be willing to shell out money for these TVs. I usually end up b.s.ing with the attendant to pass time but for others this is a good solution.
Cornholio @ Jan 12th 2008 9:06PM
The Shell in my neighborhood spews forth the current Fox "news" drivel every time you stop to fill up.
Gives me a good reason to shop elsewhere. I like Chevron better anyway.
Cornholio @ Jan 12th 2008 9:10PM
The Shell station in my neighborhood inflicts on the user the latest Fox "News" drvel every time a person stops to fill up. It's annoying as hell.
Gives me reason to shop elsewhere. I like Chevron better anyway.