Taxi TV -- considered by some passengers to be an annoying intrusion on their yellow cab rides -- may soon be coming to Uber and Lyft vehicles.
The City Council is considering legislation that would allow for-hire drivers to equip their cars with tablets that play ads.
The goal is to let drivers make a little extra cash.
"Driving a lot, you're constantly looking for ways to get more revenue the bills are mounting, the fines, the tickets," said John Telusma, a driver for Uber and Lyft.
Telusma had one of the tablets in his Mercedes for several months, under a deal with a company called Octopus. It played ads and enabled passengers to play games.
Telusma, who testified at City Council hearing on Wednesday, was among 2,300 drivers who had the devices installed before a court upheld the city's right to ban back-seat advertising in for-hire vehicles.
He says he made as much as a $125 extra a month thanks to the tablet -- and never heard a complaint.
"A lot of them say, 'Wow this is cool, what is this?' Then you get the groups who would be like nervous and don't know how to interact so when they see the tablet it's kind of like an ice breaker," he said.
Taxi TV has long been a fixture in yellow and green cabs, a delight to some passengers and an audio assault to others, especially when the off buttons don't work.
The Council legislation also would allow advertising atop and even inside Uber and Lyft cars, but some drivers say they have problems with interior ads.
"We're bombarded with ads every day. But leave it on the top let the other people see it," driver Jacky Lin said. "If riders are in my car, I want them to have a comfortable experience, not with some light blinding in their face."
The de Blasio administration voiced concerns about the proposal at Wednesday's hearing, saying riders and drivers often complain about the repetitive nature of Taxi TV.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission's acting chairman warned that it may not be the best route for fast cash drivers that think it will be.
He did not rule out supporting the idea, but suggested the legislation give the TLC the power to regulate any expansion of advertising to for-hire vehicles.
Taxi TV May Be Coming to Uber and Lyft Rides
PUBLISHED 11:10 AM EST Jan. 23, 2020