The League Of ‘DOOH Crusaders’

Gail Chiasson, North American Editor

With the Digital Out-of-Home industry trying to find ways to build awareness and media placement on its products by agency buyers and sellers, Toronto-based Onestop Media Group may have found the ideal way to draw attention to the growing media.

Onestop launched Canada’s first Digital Out-of-Home Agency Network to over 700 media professionals and enthusiasts yesterday (April 8, 2010) at the Canadian Media Directors’ Council annual conference.

Onestop’s president and CEO Michael Girgis is also founding president of CODA (Now CODACAN: The Canadian Out-of-Home Digital Association/L’Association canadienne de l’affichage numérique), as well as president of Fourth Wall Media.

The Onestop Agency Network is supported by leading content providers: Brunico Communications (Media in Canada and Stimulant), the Interactive Advertising Bureau, Cream, C Squared, and the CMDC.

First to join the league of ‘DOOH crusaders’ with a Onestop Agency Network in their offices are: Media Experts, MediaCom and Cossette.

Mark Sherman, Media Experts CEO, says, “We were the first to integrate the agency network channel in Media Experts locations across Canada. It is now an integral part of how we communicate, allowing us to share content in a timely and relevant manner. We love it!”

Amanda Ploughman, president of MediaCom, also says that the agency network is one way the media agency’s teams connect across the country and ensure that people achieve better results.

The Onestop Agency Network is a digitally broadcasted channel featuring real-time agency and industry specific information displayed on large format digital screens in agency lobbies, boardrooms and common areas.

Each network is branded to its host agency and acts as a new internal communication tool for management to message staff and visitors. Agency staff use the Onestop system and proprietary smartAD to schedule and highlight their greatest assets and accomplishments on their network – their people and their work for clients.

“By integrating digital communications into the agencies as a new communication tool, we are effectively educating and promoting the power of the medium in a meaningful way,” says Girgis. “The Onestop Agency Network allows us to keep DOOH top of mind with buyers and planners while demonstrating the medium’s unique real-time messaging capabilities. We are delighted to be working with the CMDC to bring this to all Canadian agencies.”

“The Onestop Agency Network has added an exciting new dimension to our office environment,” says Mark Smyka, director of communications, Cossette, Toronto. “Having a steady feed of news streamed into the office makes you feel more closely connected to the rest of the industry, and the platform also provides a fresh new way of communicating internally. It’s still very new and I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of its potential.”

Janet Callaghan, CMDC executive director, says, “Digital technology has been revolutionizing the media landscape. Our partnership with Onestop stands as testimony to our commitment to drive digital innovation and adoption among Canadian agencies. One of the ways we are currently demonstrating DOOH innovation is being featured today with a LIVE demonstration of a Digital Network with conference specific messaging, interactivity and ‘as it happens’ highlights. A simultaneous feed of conference highlights will also be fed to all participating Onestop Agency Networks in real-time connecting those that could not make it to the conference.”

The Agency Network launch falls on the heels of Onestop’s Canada-wide DO IT DIGITAL marketing campaign, aimed at educating advertisers about the benefits and value of digital media, and is another monumental step toward making Digital Out-of-Home mainstream among long-established media channels.

About Onestop Media Group

Onestop Media Group is a world leader in the development, operation and innovation of Digital Out-of-Home Media. Onestop owns and operates Canada’s largest portfolio of DOOH properties, collectively reaching a Canadian audience of over 2,000,000 viewers daily. Onestop is constantly expanding its DOOH portfolio through qualified new partnerships, joint ventures, and strategic acquisitions.


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