Advertising platforms proliferate in the Times Square subway station

Google is wrapping the shuttle trains. A few blocks down at Herald Square, Asics is projecting itself against the wall. The NY Times recently reported on the variety of advertising options new and old, that CBS Outdoor -as the company that handles all the advertising in the subway stations- is now exploring, such as projecting images on the train tunnel itself, (similar to Boston and LA) ads on the turnstiles, steps, etc...Like it or not, it seems the already substantial amount of advertising in our subway stations are going to get more pronounced.

In a recent visit to the Times Square station, which seems to be the testing point for new ads, NYC The Blog photographed some, but not all of these new advertising spaces, such as turnstiles arms. Turnstile arms, Really? Well Navyformoms.com has opted to claim some in the Times Square station to questionable effect. Maker's Mark wanted a set of stairs, as did Bank of America.

"Advertisers are eager for any new way to capture consumers' attention." the Times wrote. Maybe a little to eager, hmm? They continued, "'Advertisers, especially in this environment, are looking to do something different and be noticed,' said Jodi Senese, the executive vice president for marketing for CBS Outdoor. 'When something is new, clearly there's an
opportunity to make a big splash,' she said."

That seems reasonable, and the new projection display the company began leasing last week over a passageway in the station appears to hit that mark, grabbing your attention, but in a way that does not feel intrusive or over the top. Photos at right.

All in all there is a very large amount of advertising in that station, in relation to elsewhere, which often is already quite substantial. It seems as though most commuters ignore the advertisements, and I wonder how effective any of it is, particularly the more intrusive work on the stairs, turnstiles, etc...Often times any reaction I might have is averse. The digital projections are not so bad, for instance, and the wrapping of trains...Maybe ok also. After all is said and done though, I don't have any money anyways, so...

<Google Wraps Times Square Subway Shuttle In Advertisement>
<Asics Digital Projection Ad: Union Square Subway Station>
<The Train Is Coming. And With It, More Ads.>

Asics Digital Projection Ad: Union Square Subway Station

More of these types of advertisement will become prevalent in our subway stations as the format becomes aggressively marketed by the agencies selling the space, (in this case CBS Outdoor who handles all the ad space in our subway stations) and embraced by companies looking for new ways to get their message their across.

The NY Times recently ran a piece exploring the variety of advertising options available in the stations to get your message across, such as the projecting of ads on tunnel walls as they do in Boston and L.A., wrapping whole cars as was done recently on the Times Square Shuttle, and wrapping poles as you might have seen in the Herald Square station. CBS has also recently began testing a large digital display above a passageway by the 7 train in Times Square. As well, according to the Times, "it has offered stairs and the full interior of trains to advertisers for a technique known as a wrap." And for those truly looking to utilize all ad space available, and one that I've never (yet) seen covered with any ads, CBS also makes available for advertisers the turnstile arms, and the entire turnstile structure.

For further reading, Public Ad Campaign has a nice collection of stories regarding advertising in the subway stations.