DailyDOOH

In 2018 London Luton Airport (no where near London by the way) completed a GBP 160 million transformation designed to elevate the airport’s passenger experience through a contemporary terminal extension, new luxury retail area and cutting-edge digital signage network.

This year, Luton Airport celebrated its 80th birthday. The airport has grown from a small municipal airfield to a major international airport serving 150 destinations in Europe, Africa and Asia. 15.8 million travellers passed through the terminal in 2017, resulting in an 8.6 per cent growth on the previous year, which is predicted to increase to 18 million passengers annually by 2020.

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Neuroscience research released yesterday demonstrates how full motion digital out-of-home campaigns which use enhanced technology are eight times more impactful than creative content carried by static displays.

The research, conducted by Neuro-Insight for Ocean Outdoor, used brain imaging to explore the neurological impact of static and full motion DOOH displays on audiences, establishing a clear hierarchy in out-of-home sites and a new effectiveness index for creative advertising.

The fourth wave of Ocean’s Neuroscience research programme analysed brain response to four different forms of interactive content which combined full motion with additional DOOH functionality including wi-fi, live streaming, augmented reality and social media interaction.

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Former Mediavest exec Norm Chait has joined Ubimo as Head of Practice for OOH Solutions.

Norm served as SVP and Director of OOH and Local Investment at Spark Foundry, and in sales and marketing consultancies at Vector Media and Screenvision Media.

Former Peerless-AV sales manager Tracy Barrow has joined Philips Professional Display Solutions as a key account manager, based in the north of the UK.

Before joining Peerless-AV in 2014, she worked for Optoma for several years.

Super smart, super nice (well for an Aussie anyway) industry veteran Adam Cadwallader has joined the digital transit media company XTD Limited (ASX: XTD) as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, succeeding interim CEO Jason Byrne effective August 1, 2019.

We understand that the XTD board has completed (in our opinion, a much needed) review of their business and opportunities, which has led them to believe that the future direction of the business should be led by an experienced Out of Home and media executive. They are quite simply not wrong and can have chosen no better than with Adam Cadwallader.

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Former Barco exec Jon Raines Has joined NEC Display Solutions in its end user sales team.
Jon’s primary role will be to manage customers in the pharmaceuticals and life sciences sector, with particular focus on key applications in meeting and collaboration spaces.

He joins NEC from Barco where end customer engagement across major global brands was his focus. Prior to this, Jon’s sales experience in AV was developed across channel and distribution organisations.

Intersection announced this week that Eileen Crossin will become the company’s new National Sales Director for the West Coast. She will be based in Los Angeles, and charged with helping West Coast brands across L.A., San Francisco, and Seattle connect to their customers through the dynamic, engaging capabilities of Intersection’s growing out-of-home (media network, which includes digital and static offerings in the top six media markets and other major cities across the U.S.

Intersection’s Chief Revenue Officer, Michael Rosen told us “Eileen has been instrumental in working with brands and agencies to bring bold, dynamic campaigns to life. As we continue to build out our digital network in L.A., we are thrilled to have Eileen lead the charge on the West Coast to help clients reach their audiences in new and creative ways.”

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As part of its continued international growth, Talon has extended its global independent OOH offering, with the acquisition of market leading digital OOH creative services specialist Grand Visual, and its digital OOH AdTECH provider QDOT.

We are told that this strategic acquisition enables Talon to further enhance its abilities across the US and to manage the increased demand for dynamic utilization of the digital landscape as the OOH industry evolves. Through this extension of services and abilities, Talon will continue to develop new ways to better serve clients and contribute to making the industry ‘Smarter as Standard’.

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The Aldrin Family Foundation will host a day-long, free family celebration in support of The People’s Moon project on July 20 in Times Square in honor of the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest achievements of all time – landing a human on the Moon.

City, state and national partners have come together to help transform the heart of New York City into Tranquility Base, the Apollo 11 landing site. From fun-filled educational activities to iconic footage from 1969 on the infamous Times Square screens to a giant Apollo photo mosaic, families will have the opportunity to spend nearly 14 hours celebrating this historic milestone.

Andrew Aldrin, President of the Aldrin Family Foundation told us “On July 20, 1969, the world was united as one, when humans achieved the ‘impossible’ dream of landing and walking on the moon. Our goal is to recapture that spirit and give thousands the opportunity to put themselves in the place where only 12 men have gone before and to share this historic moment, just like people did 50 years ago. Through this celebration, we hope to inspire today’s generation, give them hope for the future like Apollo did for generations before, and help them realize that their own ‘giant leap’ is right within their grasp.”

Starting at 9 a.m. EDT and over the course of 14 hours, families will have the opportunity to participate in numerous activities, including but not limited to, the following:

• Walk on the Moon – Guests will be able to walk on a giant, floor-based mosaic of the iconic Moon boot print created by UK Artist Helen Marshall of The People’s Picture. The mosaic will be populated with photos from people around the world sharing their “giant leap” moments and dreams, as well as memories from Apollo 11. Some of these photos will make their way to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex as a permanent digital display. Photos, story and video submissions will be accepted through July 10, 2019.
• Educational Activities – The Aldrin Family Foundation will display its signature Giant Moon MapTM and Giant Mars MapTM. Plus, there will be special robotic and educational activities on the maps hosted by the Aldrin Family Foundation to teach kids about the history of past lunar landings and future space exploration plans.
• Historical Footage – The Discovery Channel will provide the video content to help guests relive key moments from the July 16, 1969, Saturn V rocket launch, as well the July 20, 1969, Moon landing and first steps. Historical footage, along with videos promoting future space missions, will be broadcasted throughout the day over select digital screens in Times Square. Clear Channel Outdoor and Champ Sports have generously donated screen time in Times Square and Clear Channel Outdoor has also donated space in select locations on billboards across the country.

In London the historical moon landing footage will show simultaneously on London on Piccadilly Lights in and in Singapore the moon landing content will show simultaneously at the Art Science Museum in Marina Bay.

The Times Square celebration would not be possible without the generous support of numerous partners, including: the Aldrin Family Foundation, The People’s Moon, NASA, the New York City Department of Education, Clear Channel Outdoor, the Times Square Alliance, New York City Mayor’s Office of Operations, Prolific Graphics, The People’s Picture, SpaceApps NYC, AstroReality, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Delaware North, Discovery, Productions New York, ZAZ10TS, #moonhug and Champs Sports.

For more information on the Times Square Apollo 50th Celebration hosted by The Aldrin Family Foundation and The People’s Moon click here.

@AldrinFamilyFdn #Apollo50 #thepeoplesmoon #mygiantleap

“Concerns Grow About 8Outdoor” wrote the thomas partnership’s Tim Thomas back in June. He wrote “Many landlords complaining of non-payment of rent and escalating arrears” and “As the June quarter day passes it has become evident that 8Outdoor have missed another round of rental payments with rumours of urgent refinancing talks with banks and other parties”.

We know that there has been a steady procession of private equity people invited to meet with Simon Grice over the past few months. The very clever ones have been quickly put off by the complex and nebulous structure of Grice’s companies and indeed, his business practice.

PJ Solomon are however, allegedly representing Twin Point Capital who are believed to be seriously interested in acquiring the business and if rumours are true, then working with and / or installing former Clear Channel exec Matthew Dearden to run any new business.

With InSite, the UK’s largest independent owner of advertising hoardings, holding both an Equipment Mortgage charge and leases over 51/66 screens in the 8 Outdoor network we do hope that Twin Point Capital know what they are getting into.

I do hope that during PJ Solomons due diligence they have reported on a business practice – hitherto unnoticed within the UK OOH sector. A third party consolidator of freeholds has become the dominant landlord within roadside billboards and a key industry player as they themselves upgrade these sites to digital.

The term ‘media owner’ is now somewhat of a misnomer when applied to many so-called OOH businesses, as very few of them own any freehold locations. They eagerly took the short term money multiple in return for a long, more expensive lease.

Those revenue injections, often five to seven times annual rent agreed for a 10 – 15 year lease period are not insignificant and will distort (ok, ‘inflate’) both ‘revenue’ and EBITDA ratio’s for the trading year in which they are received.

This of course is very handy if you then happen to sell your company to an outside entity less versed with the mechanics of the medium!