Do you know what?

The advertising "urban panels" in subways stations, train cars, and on street level entrances are not maintained by the MTA, but have long term contracts by CBS.

I just called and spoke to an "advertising executive" who gave me rates on subway station panels in Manhattan, or the less desirable "outer boroughs"...the price is 5 times more expensive in Manhattan than it is in the other boroughs..."rock bottom" in depressed neighborhoods in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

It makes me think about applying to the Bronx Museum Artist in the Marketplace program to receive grant money to fund a subway intervention outside of Manhattan.

Hayley what do you think about this? Would you like to apply as co-applicants? I really like the idea of cleaning the subways and intervening in the space together.

Read below...

2.14.2005
VIACOM OUTDOOR AWARDED NEW YORK CITY MTA SUBWAY CONTRACT
Renewal of Agreement Includes Display Advertising on Rail Cars, In Stations and On Platforms In New York City Subways and Staten Island Railway

Ten Year Deal Also Includes 1,600 Urban Panels at Subway Station Entrances

Agreement Gives Viacom Outdoor Exposure to 1.4 Billion Subway Riders Every Year

Viacom Outdoor, the largest out of home media division in North America, today announced it has renewed its contract with the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority to handle all display advertising on rail cars, in stations and on station platforms in New York City Subways and Staten Island Railway. As part of the renewal, Viacom Outdoor will now get access to 1,600 urban panels, significantly increasing the division's street furniture inventory in New York City. In all, the inventory includes 6211 subway cars, 468 subway stations as well as the aforementioned urban panels.

Though specific terms of the agreement are not being disclosed, it is a 10 year deal.

"This is a huge coup for Viacom Outdoor - New York City subways are used by more than 4.6 million commuters everyday, and by 1.4 billion people annually," said Wally Kelly, Chairman and CEO, Viacom Outdoor. "Very few venues offer this kind of exposure, and even fewer companies can offer this kind of premium signage to clients. This is a hard fought win against some formidable competition in the bidding process, and we are extremely pleased to continue our relationship with the MTA. We also look forward to providing our clients signage in what is perhaps the busiest transportation system in the world.

Viacom Outdoor is the world's largest out-of-home media company with a major North American presence throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico; and across Europe in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. In 2005, Viacom Outdoor International acquired 70 percent of Magic Media, a Beijing-based company which operates media sales on?high-profile, central bus routes in the Chinese capital -- the?world's fastest growing?region in terms of outdoor advertising revenue. With both traditional outdoor and transit properties, Viacom Outdoor gives advertisers both breadth of coverage across vast geographies and depth of coverage, providing multiple media opportunities in key markets.