TV Mobile is officially a thing of the past now as 31 Dec 2009 marked its last day of service.

When it was first installed in the buses in 2001, I lamented its introduction as it was seen as an intrusion. Overnight, my otherwise quiet and peaceful bus ride was interrupted constantly by the jarring noises from that black box they call the television. I really asked myself then why bother installing another television in a public vehicle? Was it to boost revenue?

The reason why I choose to take the bus, or christened the scenic route, is so that I can soak in the sights during the meandering ride while occasionally enjoying precious moments of sleep time with my head nodding away in tandem. Life was a sea of peace and quiet. I really liked that.

Then my life changed as TV Mobile made its debut. Besides the usual chatter on the bus, there was an incessant stream of voices coming from that black TV Mobile box that never seemed to just shut up. I can’t blame it too as it was broadcasting daily from 6am to 12 midnight.

Commuters now had to contend with the existence of the supposed first channel in the world to pioneer the use of Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) technology to deliver high quality programmes to viewers on the move.

But as the years went by and the routes got longer (aargh…), TV Mobile slowly but surely became my companion on those long lonely rides that never seemed to reach the destination. My favourite programme was ‘Just For Laughs’. I remember laughing myself silly on the bus and marvelling at the various antics that never failed to perk me up on a lousy day.

Yet as they say, all things must come to an end, both good things and bad things. With the demise of TV Mobile, it is goodbye to all the latest infotainment, entertainment programmes and real-time news on the move.

Goodbye TV Mobile

What can I say but things have now come full circle once more…Sigh!

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