Clear Channel’s UK Shopping Malls

Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief

Clear Channel’s UK shopping malls are in fact Vision Media Group (nee ScreenFX) shopping malls because as you know Clear Channel’s digital strategy in this sector is via partnership with VMG – the former does the national selling and the latter is simply the media owner (does the deals with the property owners, pays for and installs the equipment etc.).

Today sees the first big announcement from Clear Channel that the first of the new generation of digital mall screens has started being implemented (in fact we saw our first at the weekend in Tunbridge Wells which we reported on yesterday).

Here’s the press release…

CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR AND VISION MEDIA GROUP INSTALL DIGITAL MALL SCREENS IN SHOPPING MALLS

London – 2 December 2008. Clear Channel Outdoor, in partnership with Vision Media Group (VMG), continues to drive its digital outdoor strategy with the launch of HD digital mall screens in busy, main concourse positions. The first stage of the plan will see 56 screens in 6 major shopping malls across the UK by Christmas

The launch programme includes Westfield, Merry Hill, Dudley; Westfield, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells; Westfield, The Friary, Guildford; and Drake’s Circus, Plymouth, among others.

The launch follows the announcement earlier this year of a 10 year commitment between Clear Channel Outdoor and VMG to develop the next generation of digital outdoor in shopping malls, and are Stage 1 in a longer-term plan to encompass more top centres.

The 65” HD portrait screens offer full-motion animation and are linked by ADSL to the Clear Channel proprietary Time-Based Selling System software. The units all feature an interactive store guide and map to help shoppers find their way, and are positioned at major walkway intersections.

Clear Channel Outdoor offers advertisers the flexibility to book digital-only campaigns or to combine the new format with backlit 6 sheets in another 80 leading UK malls. The digital screens are in malls that extend the Clear Channel coverage and offer advertisers enhanced impact, value and reach, close to the point of purchase.

According to Rob Atkinson, Managing Director of Clear Channel Outdoor UK, “We are delighted to be working on this exciting project with VMG. The quality of the screens and the locations has exceeded expectations and the build programme will continue through 2009. We thank Westfield and the other mall owners for their great co-operation to get so many screens in and running by 1 December, ahead of expectations.”

Dominic Brookman, CEO of VMG continued, “We are delighted with the first stage deployment of VMG’s iconic pod – this represents 12 months of development and planning by the executive team – we believe the relationshship with Clear Channel will allow VMG to strengthen its presence in the all important mall sector as we move in to 2009 with aggressive expansion plans already set out. Not only does the internally designed unit provide advertisers with a full HD – Animation advertising format, the units also provide the very latest in touch screen information delivery for consumers’ access in each of the malls.”

This new product will complement Clear Channel Outdoor’s burgeoning investment in digital out-of-home which includes the UK’s flagship digital outdoor opportunities in Piccadilly, London, and a network of 10 digital LED roadside sites.

This physical ‘iconic pods’ are clearly labeled Clear Channel.


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