New York City pilot program may ditch TV screens in taxi cabs

NEW YORK -- Some New York City taxis may lose the TV screens that riders love to hate.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission approved a one-year pilot program on Thursday to test new meter and payment systems in up to 1,000 taxis.

The devices will include GPS-based meters that may be less expensive to operate than a traditional taxi meter.

Officials with the commission say the new systems may not include backseat TV screens.

The screens have been in taxis since 2008. They show commercials and brief clips of TV shows. They also display fares and allow riders to swipe their credit cards to pay.

Surveys show that many passengers find the TVs annoying.

There are about 13,500 yellow taxis on the streets. They are facing increasing competition from ride-hailing apps like Uber.