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SCMP ; January 3, 2003

By Victoria Button

Rail commuters face the prospect of television broadcasts on KCR services, even as bus companies are contending with a backlash from passengers over the introduction of TV sets.

Ida Leung Pik-fu, public affairs manager for Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, said customers had reacted in a 'very positive' manner to a two-week trial broadcast on an East Rail train last year.

'We're going in the direction of introducing infotainment and advertising to trains,' she said, but refused to give a timetable.

About a quarter of East Rail trains and all West Rail trains were equipped with TV screens, which were showing only pictures but would in future have sound, she said.

Ms Leung said that 'initially' half the carriages would be quiet zones where the sound would be turned off during the advertising and infotainment.

Passenger Thomas Yeung, of Ma On Shan, said he did not want more noise on trains. 'I have the experience of travelling by bus and I know how terrible things can get with the disturbing sound ? They force the noise on us; we're so distracted we can't think or do anything else,' he said.

RoadShow Holdings - a listed company, largely owned by Kowloon Motor Bus, which supplies bus TV sets - recorded a $175 million profit for the 2001 financial year.

The group has described bus broadcasts as a platform for advertisers that 'pushes your products and services to reach a mass audience in a captive environment'.

However, some passengers found their own voice by forming a pressure group, Hush the Bus. The group argues passengers should be entitled to a peaceful ride, and is urging companies to deliver TV soundtracks via a headphone system.

Group chairwoman Catherine Ng Wah-hung was dismayed at the prospect of bus televisions spreading to trains. 'Passengers have nowhere to hide,' she said. Having the sound on in only every second compartment was better than having it in every carriage, but the sound would still travel to affect those who did not want to hear it, she said, adding it would be difficult to move from carriage to carriage when trains were busy.

She urged transport operators to give customers a genuine option of whether to listen to broadcasts by using a headphone system. 'I still think this is noise pollution ? They are making money out of our free time, out of forcing us to listen to commercials,' Ms Ng said.

She queried why the KCRC had not been in contact with Hush the Bus over the issue - but Ms Leung said only that the company was consulting passengers.

'They found it [the televisions] very useful to them,' she said.

Surveys on the popularity of bus TV have been contradictory, with KMB claiming 72 per cent approval while a Baptist University survey found fewer than a third of bus passengers liked on-board television.

An MTR spokesman said it had no plans to introduce television on board trains.

Glossary

backlash (n) a sudden and negative reaction Example: There has been a strong backlash from parents to the school's decision to ban girls from playing soccer. They are demanding that girls and boys be treated equally.

infotainment (n) a new genre of TV programme that mixes news and entertainment features

initially (adv) in the beginning

distracted (adj) having one's attention diverted; not concentrating

captive (adj) confined; kept under control

Discussion points

- Do you like the TV programmes shown on buses? Would you support the introduction of TV to KCR services? Give reasons.

- What types of programmes would you like to watch on a bus or train?

- Imagine you are on a bus equipped with TV. You think the programme being shown is lousy. What would you do?

- 'Bus TV or train TV is a kind of noise pollution.' Comment on this statement.



Trains may tune in to TV