Right, that's the good news: Public input is being sought on the much-reviled 2007 digital-billboard pilot program, which gifted the city with 13 bright "variable-message" signs, many of them overlooking our scenic byways, all but one operated by SA-based media giant and political player Clear Channel.
But, that of course means: The city is considering proposing a new ordinance this year, so these four meetings are your opportunity to weigh in on their safety, aesthetic appeal, and the takedown provision that requires a certain amount of vinyl billboard space to be retired for every new digital (click on title above to be taken to the web page from S.A. Current's story, then close the new window to return back to here.)
From Scenic San Antonio: Billboards have been in the news this past year in San Antonio. While the Pilot Digital Billboard Program may be over for now, we can assume that the issue will come up again with a new City Council. And, it appears as if this City Council may begin to tackle the issue of digital signage advertising goods and services on site. So, stay tuned and go to our WHAT'S HOT and TAKE ACTION pages for the latest.
Safety Impacts of the Emerging Digital Display Technology for Outdoor Advertising Signs -by Terry Wachtel of the Veridan Group, Inc. A nationally recognized, independent expert in traffic studies who has conducted presentations around the world.
The report conducted by Terry Wachtel is long (194 pages) so we have broken them down by Chapters to make reading and if you want copy and pasting easier. If you chose to read the entire reprot here. You can stop at any time and come back to pick up with the next Chapter. The chapters are set so all you have to do is point and click on the Chapter to be taken to that chapter.
Section 3 - Research sponsored by the outdoor advertising industry is presented.
Section 4 - The key human factors issues that inform the potential response of drivers to digital roadside billboards are summarize.
Section 5 - Reviews a representative sample of guidelines and regulations that currently exist in a number of foreign countries as well as in several jurisdictions within the US.
Section 6 - Series of recommendations for potential regulations and guidance. These recommendations are those that (a) have worked elsewhere, and (b) are based on sound research or science, and therefore might have practical applications for those jurisdictions seeking guidance to inform their own decision-making.
Section 7 - Addresses issues of digital advertising on-premise and on right-of-way.
Section 8 - Discusses some of the newest roadway-related applications of computer-controlled LED advertising that have begun to appear on and adjacent to public roads in the US and abroad, and for which little policy has yet been considered.
Section 10 - Presents the list of references cited in the body of the report.
Digital Signs Inaction has both sides upset
Comment from Scenic San Antonio’s Chair: We asked why the staff is recommending this artificial time frame for results that have no validity. We think you will ask the same question after you read the letter sent to us by Jerry Wachtel, a nationally recognized traffic safety expert.
In early October of 2008, I was contacted by Mr. David Simpson of the San Antonio Department of Planning and Development. He explained that the City had enacted a moratorium on the conversion or construction of digital billboards (DBBs) and that it was planning to use the moratorium period to conduct a research study into the possible safety impacts of DBBs. He had apparently been asked to contact me for advice and recommendations about the planned study.
He described the study to me as one in which the City would collect accident (crash) data for a period of three months prior to the dates of conversion of conventional billboards to DBBs, and three months after the conversions. The City would then compare the accident...
Clear Channel Outdoor is nothing if not punctual. Here it is just about a year since our City Council approved the 12-month digital-billboard pilot program, which allowed them to flip the switch on a dozen hi-def signs across the city, and they’re back at City Hall, pushing a variety of agendas. Last week, Clear Channel was well-represented at the Infrastructure and Growth Committee meeting, where CMs Cibrian, Cortez, Ramos, and Galvan reviewed two proposals that could have a significant impact on where and how future digital billboards are erected if Council extends the pilot program....
taken from the Queque dated 1 October, 2008 Our hometown is getting in the fin-de-siècle Washington spirit with a bailout or two of its own. As with the spectacle to the north, we suspect it’ll be some time before winners and losers are sorted out, but that won’t stop your craps-lovin’ Queque from rolling the die. Our money’s on the City in the game to remake the Electrical Supervisory Board,...
Webmaster input - At yesterday's Infrastructure and Growth Committee meeting (Nov 19, 2008), Clear Channel Representatives said that if they were barred from being able to put up digital billboards within a 5 mile radius of Camp Bullis or other military bases such as Randolph AFB that they would go out of business. Thanks to our research we found the following next two articles. Do you think they are going out of business in San Antonio? Please express your thoughts in our Guest Book.
Branding via Clear Channel Outdoor transit properties in the U.S. now reaches approximately 500 million riders annually
PHOENIX - October 20, 2008 – Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) today announced that it has won advertising rights to the Sacramento public transit system and the San Antonio bus system, furthering its reach and delivery of advertisers’ messages to travelers visiting and commuting in major cities. Sacramento’s five-year contract became effective July, 1, 2008 and San Antonio’s nine-year contract became effective October 1, 2008...
Now based on this information above in Clear Channel's getting a contract for advertising on City VIA buses - here is something found on YouTube that is going on in New York with their buses.
Click here to be taken to the YouTube video. It also has videos on the same page that cover New York's Subway system and their cars plus the fact that some of these new digitals use cameras to target ads based on your face and looking at the camera. We here at Scenic San Antonio are looking diligently for the article on taxis in another New England City where they are putting digital screens on the top of cabs and tying them in with GPS so the ads change based on what part of the city the taxi is traveling through. Check back in a day or so for the link on the taxis.
