Transit Television Network Bankruptcy: Can the public take over the system?

Transit Television Network, a subsidiary of Torstar (owner of Canada's biggest daily newspaper), has filed for bakruptcy.

In Milwaukee and other cities where it set up on buses, TTV seems universally loathed for reasons mentioned by this LA blogger: http://metroriderla.com/2006/12/03/transit-tv-how-we-hate-thee/

Worst of all, TTV has been an infection in public space. As a local rider puts it, TTV content screams one message over and over: "You are a Bus Rider; You are a Loser. This xxxxxx will save you from your misery. $19.95 and operators are standing by." Or a free PC by giving up your phone number and checking account number. Or the scams that came to us with the SAME actor, different names for the scams, but just call 800 xxx xxxx and your life will be turned around -- $500,000 from your home in one month. No one in their right minds would call such a number but that shouting sent a clear coherent message: You Are A Loser. And that message has pervaded bus service for the last decade.

My question: is there any way the existing hardware might be repurposed by creative groups to have a more publicly edifying message?

09 Feb23:53

Agreed--200%

By terraperma

I just started riding the bus regularly and I promise if I have to sit through another ad for the snuggie I might lose my mind. The TV make people just sit there without speaking to eachother. (Who wrote that poem about the abandonment of the human voice?)

Anyhow. Here's some clearer thoughts.
+the map is very useful when you are on a route you don't know
+sometimes I hear about things in LA I haven't heard of.
-snuggie commercials
-loud and obnoxious

I would love to see route targeted programming.
* brief ads from companies located along the route
*events or calendar listings for the area
*reports on local museums, non profits, parks, gardens, arts, etc..
*programs about the area's history
*slideshows of paintings, video art, dance, etc...

I don't own a TV personally, so I would actually like the see these 100% done away with, but if we can use them as a resource for artists or local economy not junk. Let's do it.