Nielsen To Report Ratings For Place-Based Video Networks

Joe Mandese with Media Daily News Reports this morning that "in a move that could bring the kind of structure to the burgeoning out-of-home video advertising marketplace that is associated with traditional television, Nielsen plans to introduce TV ratings "pocketpieces" for a variety of place-based television networks. The plan, which was revealed by Senior Vice President-Nielsen Strategic Media Research Paul Lindstrom, came out as part of a panel discussion on Wednesday during MediaPost's Digital Out-of-Home Forum in New York." Link to the whole story

IdeaCast and Transit TV do deal

IdeaCast (which we covered in my post on 06/27/07 - National Cinemedia take big Position in IdeaCast), a private provider of custom television content and advertising to health clubs announced that it has entered into a strategic sales relationship with Transit TV and will represent digital OOH networks advertising inventory to IdeaCast's list of ad clients. In addition, IdeaCast has also entered into a letter of intent with an option to acquire Transit TV in Q2. Transit TV is a major transit-based digital out-of-home adverting network operator with systems installed and operational in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Orlando, Transit TV communicates with over 500 million riders per year on nearly 4,000 vehicles. IdeaCast's plans for Transit TV include expanding the Transit TV network to the top 10 U.S. markets, as well as contracting with Nielsen Media Research to establish metrics and a process for audience measurement for the transit network.

CBS purchases Sign Storey

In a major vote of confidence for the rapidly growing OOH industry, CBS Corp. this on late Thursday that it will acquire SignStorey, Inc., a distributor of video programming and ad content to retail stores. The purchase price is 71.5 million in cash. SignStorey will be renamed "CBS Outernet" upon closing of the deal which is expected in Q4. With digital video displays in more than 1,400 grocery stores in major markets across the United States, SignStorey offers advertisers the opportunity to reach consumers with targeted content that can be customized by region and by daypart. The company's satellite-delivery system enables immediate, customized programming and messaging to each individual system. SignStorey has long-term exclusive contracts with SuperValu (Acme, Albertsons, Jewel and Shaw's), Pathmark, ShopRite and Price Chopper, among others, and is currently installed in six of the top 10 markets in the U.S., with traffic of more than 72 million consumers every month. CBS has significant experience in programming for out-of-home audiences. In addition to SignStorey, current partners in this regard include American Airlines/CBS Eye on American, Royal Caribbean/CBS Eye on Royal Caribbean; AutoNet TV/Rev It Up; Salon Network Channel; Starwood Hotels/SPG TV; Indoor Direct; Mall of America; On Spot Digital/Simon Malls and Ripple TV/CBS Outdoor, among others. Link: Wall Street Journal Sept 07, 2007 - Checking Out CBS in the Checkout Line (subscription)

The Screening of America - The Battle Begins in Offices

Yesterday I read a brief article about The Wall Street Journal's OOH office signage network expanding from thier current lobby locations, into office building elevators. This is the first big push that I have noticed between competing OOH Digital signage companies for real estate. This has been Gannett's Captivate Networks turf up until now and the battle should be be interesting. Well the second salvo has apparently been fired with MediaDaily Post reporting this morning that... "In a sign that the office media marketplace is expanding and growing more competitive, Gannett Co.'s Captivate Network this morning unveiled plans to expand its digital video screens beyond its core base of elevators in high-rise office buildings in major markets to also include low-rise buildings and office parks in important suburban areas. Unlike the high-rise buildings, provide a significant amount of programming and advertising "dwell time" to workers riding elevators, the new Captivate Suburban Network will feature digital video screens in lobby areas, or in the blank wall spaces situated between elevator banks."... Link: July 24, 2007 Captivate Expands beyond the Elevators, Will Blurb the Burbs

PRN and NBCU Partner to sell Ads

Premier Retail Network - creator of the world's largest OOH in-store media network has announced an agreement with NBC Universal. For some time, NBCU has provided programming to PRN and bought space on its networks, which include channels in Wal-Mart and Costco. The new deal will allow it to sell ads to select marketers on PRN's network that's available at supermarket checkout counters. The synergies between the two partners should be strong because NBCU O&O Stations fit nicely with PRN's "Supermarket Checkout TV" 1,000 plus store locations. Link: MediaDaily News - July 19 '07 - In-Store Reach: NBCU joins with PRN

Interactive OOH Ad Campaign Launches in Las Vegas

At Monster Media they state that their mission is to be the leading alternative media company. Those are big shoes to fill in today embryonic digital signage business however they are certainly leading the pack and helping the industry to stretch it’s creative and technological limits. To date they have released three applications that allow people to directly interact with large projected ads using only body movements. Yesterday Travelzoo announced a partnership with them and unveiled a campaign that will create interactive place-based displays in Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport. The interactive "What's the Deal with Travelzoo?" campaign encourages travelers to participate in the advertisements. The 8’x20’ real time projected images will show travel deals and allow airport guest to directly interact with the brand. Link: View images and video of the advertisements

National CineMedia Take big Position in IdeaCast

National CineMedia invests in IdeaCast, a provider of advertising to fitness centers and health clubs. NCM is investing up to 7.0 million in 6% preferred stock and will have an option to acquire additional common stock such that NCM's overall investment (including the convertible preferred stock) represents 50.1% of IdeaCast's fully diluted common stock. Through a series of multi-year agreements with CNN, CNBC and MSNBC, IdeaCast exclusively re-distributes network programming to and manages program ad sales for health clubs. The network currently includes nearly 600 locations and has secured agreements with an additional 500 to join its network over the next several months. At that time, the IdeaCast health club network will cover 116 markets including all top 25 markets and 45 of the top 50 markets, representing over 200 million club visits per year. The network includes Lifestyle Family Fitness, Club One, Fitness Formula, Spectrum and Town Sports International (NY Sports Clubs, Boston Sports Clubs, Washington Sports Clubs and Philadelphia Sports Clubs). National advertisers currently on the network include American Airlines, AT&T, Dunkin' Donuts and Quaker. Link: Yahoo! Finance June 26, 2007 - National CineMedia Invests in Health Club Digital Media Network Operator IdeaCast

TV Ads becoming Commonplace Outside the Home

Place-based advertising in settings including grocery stores, gas pumps and office buildings is becoming a viable medium for marketers to send their messages to consumers -- in a forum in which they can't change channels. New standards for buying and selling the ads, as well as rating their success, are emerging for the fledgling segment, which has a presence in at least 37,000 venues nationwide, according to Profitable Channels. Link: The New York Times 03/02/07 - Away From Home, TV Ads are Inescapable

PlaceBased Television to Generate Revenues of $1.2B in 2006

Digital out-of-home networks are popping up everywhere from high-rise elevators to gas station pumps to public rest rooms, creating new places and states of mind for marketers to reach their consumer and business prospects. The new networks, a subset of the outdoor media industry is sometimes referred to as place-based television. The growth is being spurred by a combination of entrepreneurial zeal from venue operators looking to tap the fast-growing advertising sector, as well as from increasing demand form advertisers and agencies seeking alternatives to traditional media. Marketers are gravitating to the new medium because of it’s ability to deliver conventional sight, sound and motion advertising that big TV advertisers have grown accustomed to, as well as their ability to deliver an extremely relevant message to consumers at a decisive moment in their purchase cycle. According to a new report released by marketing consultants Profitable Channels, approximately 700 digital out-of-home networks have launched since 2002 and they are estimated to account for $1.2 billion in national ad spending this year. Links: MediaDailyNews.com 09/12/06 – Digital Ad Boom shifting from Online to Out-Of-Home