Move over Muzak, elevator entertainment is about to get the deluxe treatment. Thanks to the Televator Corporation, which provides elevator media and advertising services, elevator riders will be able to watch the latest news, sports, weather, as well as scan tenant directories, floor details, emergency notifications and other building information.

Televator's interactive communication system includes a flat-panel display with built-in features. There are no channels for riders to choose from, and content and media updates occur every 15 minutes. Televator (www.televator.net) recently signed a content alliance deal with MSNBC. If an elevator malfunction or building emergency were to occur, Televator's system provides safety information messages to the elevator passengers.

Each MSNBC-provided story lasts 15 seconds and the stories continuously rotate allowing passengers to view three to four stories on an average 45–60 second elevator ride.

According to James Fayette, president and chief operating officer of Televator, "We offer building owners a tremendous amenity for their buildings and installing our systems is in keeping with their desire to maintain their properties on the technological cutting edge for tenants."

Although Fayette says Televator has plans and capabilities to expand across the U.S., the San Diego-based company is currently focused on California-based office and hotel properties, primarily buildings with at least seven stories. "Our customers include REITs and we have, and will continue to engage with a wide range of companies; some that only own one property and others that have multiple properties."

Televator's display screens can be installed in existing elevators or built into new models. As for the cost, Fayette says it varies depending on the project. "We try to be very flexible with our customers," he says. "Typically the building owner will participate in the revenue generated from the advertising sold, so we don't really throw out a figure of what it costs per elevator. We look at the situation and the opportunity and we try to make it as flexible as possible for the owner, as well as with the elevator companies we work with."