Gas Pumps Get TV Programming And Advertising

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Given that there's not usually a whole lot of eye candy at the gas station as, say, there is on the sidewalks of New York during a hot summer day, the launch of Gas Station TV, currently testing in Dallas, sounds like a really great idea. After all, for the 3-5 minutes it takes to pump your tank full of gas, there's not a whole lot to do other than watch the numbers roll on the pump or marvel at just how far over the belt line the stomach of the guy in the car next to you hangs as he waddles back from the convenient mart with yet another bag of twinkies and a 64 once bottle of sugar and chemicals.

So, in relieving the maddeningly tedious practice of pumping your own gas, Gas Station TV has installed 100 TV's on Murphy Oil pumps in Dallas and will expand to Houston and Atlanta in the fall. Walt Disney's ABC will sell ads which will be shown with programming on the screens. This is what we call the acceptable tapping of a captive audience. Similar to the video screens in elevators, gas pump video and advertising likely won't be seen as being intrusive such as pre-movie ads which are unsuccessful because people feel they've paid for the privilege of an ad-free experience. Add this to the list of good things attached to the growth of the third screen.

Written by Steve Hall    Comments (5)     File: Good, Point of Purchase, Television     Jun- 7-06  
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Comments

This isn't really new news. Perhaps the delivery style is, but here in Minnesota we've had TV in our gas pumps for years. It never plays anything good, but it's there nonetheless.

Posted by: Brent Meyer on June 7, 2006 11:54 AM

This isn't really new news. Perhaps the delivery style is, but here in Minnesota we've had TV in our gas pumps for years. It never plays anything good, but it's there nonetheless.

Posted by: Brent Meyer on June 7, 2006 11:55 AM

A number of Exxon stations in Canada (branded Esso) have had pump-top television for over 18 months, provided by VST Media (www.vst-canada.ca). From personal experience, it is really effective and obviously others think so too, as it is being rolled out nationally. Credit where credit is due.

Posted by: Peter Heywood on June 7, 2006 02:02 PM

This is one venue cigarette ads should be allowed to play…to prove it’s effectiveness the viewer will immediately desire to light up. The ubiquity of advertising is now bothering on nauseating.

Posted by: Rex on June 7, 2006 02:16 PM

The Pump-TV world hit even Omaha seveal years ago. I am more interested in the new car next to me. Most of what I have seen is mindless old news.

Posted by: Roy Coffman on June 10, 2006 06:00 PM

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