DailyDOOH

It seems like Los Angeles is taking a page from New York’s book of rules regarding penalties for off-site sign regulations – but maybe even more so.

LA, which already forced the removal of 100 digital signs put up by Clear Channel Outdoor and CBS Outdoor is now looking at two specific new issues: Concerns around the proposed penalties for violations of off-site sign regulations; and the question of how to resolve the status of over a thousand existing off-site signs that may fall under the state ‘rebuttable presumption’ law.

The ‘rebuttable presumption’ law essentially states that existing off-site signs that have been in place for five years or more without being issued an order to comply may be presumed legal, unless a governmental entity proves otherwise.

We understand that most of the signs would likely be what DailyDOOH refers to as ‘static billboards’, but since the report we’ve seen refers to the inability of some boards to change to digital, and since some digital network companies also own static boards, we figured that we’d try to summarize the many paragraphs of legalize.

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CBS Outdoor has launched a digital out-of-home network in New York subway stations with launch partner Turner Broadcasting System Inc., just in time to promote this year’s NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championship.

The new network will feature content from TNT, TBS, CNN, Adult Swim and other Turner brands. To bring this content to life, CBS Outdoor, under its recently launched Ignite: Innovations Lab platform, has installed 10 large format digital dioramas, measuring 66” high and 38.5” wide, in strategic locations throughout the subway system.

The capabilities of the platform allow Turner to update promotional content in real time, making this a full OOH video network. As part of this promotion, Turner has exclusive use of the digital network and its hardware, while the screens will be controlled by Turner on a real-time basis via a dynamic feed.

The network and its supporting LCD screens have been installed in Manhattan’s busiest MTA stations, including Grand Central, Times Square, Columbus Circle, Bryant Park, Lincoln Center and Herald Square, among others. The messaging is expected to reach millions of riders and passerby’s throughout March, and a significant portion of the MTA’s 1.7 billion annual ridership throughout the year.

CBS Sports and Turner Sports will provide live coverage of all 67 games from the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across four networks – TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV, beginning Tuesday, March 18, with the NCAA First Four on truTV presented by Northwestern Mutual.

For the first time in the event’s 76-year history, the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship National Semifinals will be presented live across three networks – TBS, TNT and truTV – to provide fans with a variety of viewing options for this marquee event. For the 33rd consecutive year, CBS will broadcast the NCAA National Championship game in 2014.

“These screens allow us to dynamically showcase the breadth and variety of Turner’s networks in real-time,” says Dennis Camlek, senior vice president, Turner Media Group, TBS Inc. “It’s a creative canvas which helps us drive both consumer and trade awareness of our original entertainment, sports and news programming.”

“There is no better way to reach the New York City audience than entry points within its major artery ways: the subway system,” says Jodi Senese, chief marketing officer, CBS Outdoor. “Every day millions of riders pass through these doors, and having a prominent large screen network within their commute is a great way to reach this audience. NCAA March Madness is among the most anticipated sporting events on television, and this is a very unique way to kick off this program.”

MediaVest is serving as the media agency of record and CBS Outdoor has been designated as the official media vendor. This is the latest in a series of ‘firsts’ for Turner. In 2010, Turner Sports was the first to bring video to New York’s public transit system by installing screens in the shuttle trains between Times Square and Grand Central Station to promote Major League Baseball on TBS. Following that successful campaign, this program was created to deliver innovation across Turner’s portfolio of networks.

NCAA, First Four and March Madness are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

London’s very own ‘Digital Signage Week‘ kicks off the week beginning 12th May 2014. Topics so far, include everything from retail, employee communications, digital out of home and of course digital signage.

If you are planning an event – however big or small, drop us a line so that we can add to this post, which we are using as a ‘calendar of events’ (so we will be regularly updating it).

• The DailyDOOH Media Summit, The David Lean Room at BAFTA, May 13, 2014 (agenda up shortly, registration also open shortly)
• VUKUNET Media Dinner, May 13 2014
• 6th NEC Solutions Showcase at The Velodrome, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, May 14 and 15, 2014.
• The International Scala Conference (ISC) at The Timber Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, May 14, 2014.
• The Screen Forum Breakfast Briefing at The Velodrome, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, May 15, 2014.
• Employee Communications Thought Leadership Summit at The Velodrome, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, May 15, 2014.
• AV User Group meeting (in the afternoon, with possible drinks after) at The Timber Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, May 15, 2014.

MultiTouch have announced a permanent London showroom and the launch of MultiTaction iWall…

• MultiTaction iWall and showroom launch in London. April 2-3, 2014 from 9am to 4 pm daily for private demos. Open reception on April 2nd at 5 pm. FLUX Innovation Lounge at Engage Production, Wool House, Unit 1, Back Church Lane, London E1 1AB Register at events@multitaction.com
• The completely turnkey MultiTaction iWall has been designed as the ultimate interactive solution for corporate spaces and other high value locations. Aimed at inspiring users to collaborate, communicate and explore, it boasts all the unique features of MultiTaction technology – including unlimited touch, IR pen and object recognition.

Paul Flanigan, newly minted Executive Director at the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA) emailed his members Friday to let them all know that the DSA had decided to discontinue its formal agreement with Customer Engagement World (CEW) (and yes, like other industry commentators who the hell knew it had dropped the ‘T’) that identified it as its official show.

In the email he said “CEW and DSA plan to continue working together on a variety of initiatives that support both organizations’ goals as we move into the future”.

Joel Davis, Founder and CEO of JD Events (owner of Customer Engagement World) was also quoted, “We continue to value our relationship with DSA immensely. Both parties recently agreed that the old agreement that was put in place in 2010 was too restrictive and simply unnecessary at this time. We look forward to continuing our positive relationship with DSA by developing innovative new programs that will benefit the industries we both serve”.

I suspect that CEW are mighty relieved – they’ve always said that they were a lot more than just ‘digital signage’ and bottom line this announcement probably comes as a result of Lawrence Dvorchik and Joel no longer wanting to write cheques to the DSA, since their members were most likely NOT buying booths.

It leaves CEW in a better place (and free to go do their own thing), it leaves Digital Signage vendors (or at least those who felt some loyalty to the DSA) free to go choose DSE or a vertical show of their choice and it leaves the DSA to do what it should have done a long, long time ago (more of that in a later post)

I’m not sure what is more exciting, lining up once again to speak next to Téléciné Multimedia’s James Fine (we last shared the stage in Las Vegas at Video Walls Unplugged during #dse2014) or listening to a whole bunch of new speakers that the DailyDOOH team have got together for their next Thought Leadership Summit on Employee Communications.

My talk on Thursday May 15 will be entitled ‘How to Reinforce a Brand, The Minute you Walk Into A Building’ and I will not only be talking about the award winning work that we have been doing with PwC (and LSE) but will also be exploring some of the innovative concepts we have come up with for RMG Networks in their new Executive Briefing Centre in Dallas (shown above as Work in Progress).

Outside of North America at least, this might be the first time that people will get a chance to take a look at what will undoubtedly be one of the showpiece installations of the year!

Captivate Network, digital media company reaching on-the-go business professionals throughout their workday, has formed an exclusive partnership with the City of Boston to help local businesses better reduce and manage their carbon footprints in the office.

Captivate has committed over three months of marketing support to promote Greenovate Boston via sustainability tips to help Captivate’s audience of business professionals achieve environmentally-friendly workplaces. In the current campaign, office professionals are asked to text ‘OFFICE’ to Greenovate’s phone number (617) 945-8867 to take the pledge to take three important actions daily:

• Using revolving doors, which saves eight times more air that needs to be heated or cooled;
• Switching to double-sided printing, which can save the equivalent of one tree per employee annually;
• Turning off electronics and unplugging chargers before leaving, which helps reduce electricity leaks that happen when appliances are switched off but not unplugged.

The City of Boston will follow up periodically with those that pledge to see whether they adopt those habits.

Captivate Network, founded in Massachusetts more than 15 years ago, has a long-standing presence in Boston’s commercial real estate industry, with more than 600 news and information screens in the city’s most prestigious class-A office buildings.

“With buildings producing more than 60% of our city’s greenhouse gases, a key part of Greenovate Boston is educating our businesses and employees on how small energy-saving actions at the office can help make a greener Boston,” said Mayor of Boston Martin Walsh, thanking Captivate Network for its support in helping share this message.”

Captivate’s commitment to the Greenovate Boston initiative extends beyond the current in-office campaign, with additional support and more carbon footprint reduction tips to come throughout 2014.

Montreal-based company Float4 recently deployed its first interactive wall in a hotel environment, installing it in the lobby of the newly built Mere Hotel located in the heart of Winnipeg’s cultural district.

The newly built Mere Hotel is located in the heart of the cultural district in Winnipeg, Mantoba.

The Christie MicroTiles wall of 12X4 tiles features informational, entertainment and artistic content, as well as gesture and multi-touch interactivity. It also includes a content management system, developed in-house by Float4, that allows the client to add, edit or remove content, without Float4’s intervention.

The objective in this project was to optimize the guest experience in a fun and engaging way, by combining contemporary design and cutting-edge technology, while reflecting a ‘Pure and Simple’ mindset that defines Mere Hotel. In this sense, Float4 worked alongside the client to provide an interactive experience that complies with the boutique hotel’s identity and values.

Content serving informative purposes, such as local information, historical content and hotel services, is static and fully editable inside the content management system. Real-time content driven by Internet data, such as the weather, local news and airplane schedules, is updated automatically on the digital wall. It is also possible to output a TV feed or custom presentation into the wall by selecting the right mode into the CMS.

Further, an artistic application has also been developed to allow users to create their own artwork, as they move and touch the screen. Various pictures of nature serve as background for the entire wall, and evolve according to the season, time of day, and weather. The menu board’s color range also varies accordingly to the time of the year.

Shenzhen Airlines has selected NCR Corporation, to provide self-service check-in solutions.

The agreement also includes multi-vendor, on-site support services for new and existing airport check-in kiosks throughout China.

The new self-service kiosks will be deployed at Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, the hub for Shenzhen Airlines. The purchase marks the first time the airline has turned to a foreign provider for this technology. Shenzhen Airlines will also rely on NCR Travel to maintain existing kiosks for airports in Nanjing, Nanning, Xian and Shenyang by providing on-site maintenance support services and parts.

NCR airport check-in enables passengers to check in, access flight information, select seats, and scan and print boarding passes. The NCR airport check-in kiosks run on common use self-service platform, which allows applications from other allied member airlines to run concurrently on a single self-service device.

NCR provides airport check-in solutions for seven of the top ten airlines worldwide.

For the second consecutive year, but with a change, Philadelphia-based MVP Interactive, a technology, marketing and software company specializing in in-venue interactive audience engagement, deployed its Fan MorphingStation with great success at the NBA All-Star Game last month in New Orleans.

The Fan MorphingStation allowed fans to transform themselves into virtual bobblehead dolls in the concourse of the Smoothie King.The campaign was created in partnership with brand sponsor BBVA Compass.

However, this year, the MorphingStation deployed featured SkyeBeacon, a notification technology that pinged nearby fans’ smartphones informing them of the presence and location of the Station.

It is the first time MVP has used SkyeBeacon as part of a live execution.

As in the past, fans that interacted with the MorphingStation had their picture taken when they approached the screen and then watched as they were virtually transformed into bobblehead dolls adorned with the All-Star jerseys specially designed for this year’s game.

Once the transformation was complete, fans could print out their image on-site. BBVA Compass’ logo appeared on the base of the bobblehead doll and in the corner of the printout.

The Fan MorphingStation was active for three consecutive nights, starting with the Rising Stars Challenge Friday night, All-Star Saturday night and right through to Sunday’s night’s All-Star Game. More than 700 fans in attendance engaged the Morphing Station, almost one fan per minute.