Yesterday I was in Stockton at the AM/PM on Arch Airport Road and while I was pumping gas the little screen where you enter your PIN for your debit card turned into a full-fledged TV network right before my eyes. “Gas Station TV” (yes, that’s the real name of the network) was offering ESPN content. God forbid someone get bored in the minute or so it takes to put gas in their tank.

I’m not one much for conspiracy theories BUT it occurred to me that Gas Station TV serves two purposes. #1, Somewhere a sales person is selling ads during the breaks on Gas Station TV. Can you imagine the pitch? “Yes sir Mr. Business Owner, while people are pumping gas they’ll watch the latest sports scores in between which we’ll run your furniture store ad”. Seems like a winner. Definite impulse buy, lol. #2, Once you stop pumping gas, the feed ends and the screen goes back to the text you might see a normal pump (“would you like a car wash” etc.) like you see in the photo. Conclusion: they’re hoping you’ll be so taken in by the show that you’ll forget to stop the pump and fill’er up.