A letter from Susanne Ho of Kowloon Motor Bus ('KMB claims bus videos a success', South China Morning Post, February 10) claimed that '84 per cent of respondents welcome programmes that combine audio and visual elements'.
Meanwhile, there is a continuous flow of complaints from passengers about the intrusive and annoying nature of these noisy ads. Coincidentally, in the Business Post of the same day, we read 'Kowloon Motor Bus wants to spin off on-board advertising venture' and a report that KMB plans to install screens on 2,000 buses by April in a project expected to generate about $440,000 in daily advertising revenue.
So, passenger complaints will obviously have little impact on KMB - and Citibus, which will partner them in this - when set against this revenue stream.
KMB and Citibus have done a lot to make bus travel more pleasant in recent years. Now they seem set on exploiting their paying passengers. Is it not possible for them to use their expensive LCD screens to show silent advertising, as is done on the MTR's Airport Express?
This will not torment the harried commuter who wants to rest, read or carry on a quiet conversation. Alternatively, using the broadcast-TV and radio models, the companies could offer free buses for those willing to put up with 'infotainment'.
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