ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2012 – Digital Signage Expo® (DSE), the world’s largest International Tradeshow and Conference dedicated exclusively to digital signage, interactive technology and digital out-of-home networks (DOOH), has just introduced a new digital engagement platform designed to showcase the ground-breaking innovation, new ideas and envelope-pushing applications that will be featured at DSE in Las Vegas March 6-9th.

The new platform, which can be found here will feature innovation by industry category, recap top industry trends, and present the 2012 Apex and Content Awards Finalists. Importantly, the platform will also provide an open-source component inviting industry professionals to upload examples of industry innovation wherever in the world they see an application worthy of notice.

The information-packed platform can be incorporated into articles on Digital Signage Expo via embedding, enabling readers to access the highlighted videos, new products, educational offerings and more right from a news outlet’s web story by clicking the “share” tab at the bottom of the platform and selecting “embed” to include this useful tool in articles intended for publication.

Susie McManus-Sanders, DSE’s Digital Media Editor said, “Innovation drives our industry and DSE is delighted to provide another outlet to both showcase and encourage the development of exciting new technologies and applications that effectively raise the bar for creative solutions.”

Registration for DSE 2012 is now available online at www.digitalsignageexpo.net

Mark your calendar now: Digital Signage Expo® 2012, co-located with the Interactive Technology Expo and Digital Content Show, is scheduled for March 6-9, 2012, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. To reserve exhibit space contact Jeanne Phillips, (770) 649-0300, Ext 16. Or, for more information, visit www.digitalsignageexpo.net . You can follow DSE on Twitter at DSExpo, or for all DSE 2012 updates, use #dse2012. For year-round news and information on digital signage, visit DSE’s new Digital Signage Connection web portal at www.digitalsignageconnection.com .

For more information, contact Communications RepresentativeGeri D. Wolff, Market Works International, Inc. (386) 447-0018gwolff@market-works.com

SOURCE Digital Signage Expo

On April 11th, MediaPost will host the fourth annual Digital Out-of-Home Awards in New York City to celebrate the year’s most innovative and effective advertisements in the realm of digital out-of-home media.  Awards are now open for entries: enter your work

The 16 categories for this year’s awards will cover everything from the best digital out-of-home brand campaigns, to the most innovative use of technology and delivery formats, to the best use of location, and the best integrations with other forms of media.  Get all the info at the event site.

We’d like to encourage all of the brands and DOOH vendors in the DOmedia Marketplace to enter MediaPost’s Digital Out-of-Home Awards and show off your success! We’d be happy to help you in your application process. Contact us at marketing@domedia.com.

There was quite a buzz around the Strategy Institute’s Digital Signage Investor Conference 2011 held in New York on October 17 and 18th. Taking a look at some Twitter metrics, it’s clear the chatter was centered around 110:30am Monday: Network’s Operations Panel & CEO Panel; and 9:50am Tuesday: Keynote Address & Investor Panel.

The titles for the most popular discussions were:

• Creating a Profitable Business via Subscription
• Merchandising and Ad-based Models
• The Stories Behind the Million-Dollar Funding Deals
• Consolidation: Why Dooh Now? What Lies Ahead?

for a full agenda of the event, go to the official DSI 2011 website »

Particular speakers receiving kudos via the twitter world were:

• Garry McGuire, CEO, @RMGnetworks
• @RishiShah, Founder & CEO, ContextMedia
• Ajay Chouwdhury, CEO, @ComQi
• François de Gaspé Beaubien, Chairman & Chief Coaching Officer, Zoom Media
• Mike DiFranza, President and General Manager, @Captivate Network

 What were people tweeting about?

Check out this tweet cloud for #DSInvestor. (view it on cloud.li here)

This visualization shows there was buzz around media, #DOOH, Garry McGuire, mobile, Rishi Shah, and Digital Signage. @DailyDOOH, @davidweinfeld and @alexjbaker were engaging in the most conversations and many people felt “great” about Rishi Shah and François de Gaspé’s performance.

 Top Tweets for #DSInvestor ↓

SpectrumMotion SpectrumMotionMedia

10 reasons to invest in digital place-based media from Zoom Media’s Chairman speaking at #dsinvestor ow.ly/71ZhL

tomfosgard tomfosgard

RT 10 Reasons To Invest In Digital Place-Based Media j.mp/nvnQjg#dsinvestor @DailyDOOH

RishiShah Rishi Shah

@DSInvestor11 while I clearly like DOOH, a point of information is in order. Facebook IS profitable with revenue 2X #DOOH, >$4B #DSInvestor

RishiShah Rishi Shah

Very impressed by Mike DiFranza (Captivate CEO) – thoughtful & sharp analysis of acquisition by Gannett and operating post-deal #DSInvestor

davidweinfeld David Weinfeld

Mike DiFranza of Captivate Networks highlighted that his co. is looking at mobile. Opportunities abound for @screenreach #dsinvestor

DailyDOOH DailyDOOH

@prawlings u think Intel would mention Android when they had MeeGO (dropped Sept 2011) and are in bed with Windoze? #dsinvestor

AlexJBaker Alex Baker

@DSInvestor11 - Hey Sirous, where do I get a copy of the presentations from #DSInvestor? Thanks! Great meeting you yesterday.

18 Oct

AlexJBaker Alex Baker

@davidweinfeld - I agree. Consolidation is happening and it’s happening rapidly. #DSInvestor @DSInvestor11

18 Oct

Screenfeed Jeremy Gavin

@davidweinfeld @screachapp Yes – your offerings are right in the center of every discussion. #DSinvestor

17 Oct

DailyDOOH DailyDOOH

Kinetic Proves The Value Of Digital Posters #dsinvestordailydooh.com/archives/9026

17 Oct

AlexJBaker Alex Baker

@RishiShah - great job up there, Rishi! Let’s connect this week or let the DOteam know when you are in NYC or Columbus next. #dsinvestor

17 Oct

DSInvestor11 Sirous Afshar

@RishiShah a big hit at #DSInvestor. Million dollar funding deals being discussed now.

17 Oct

Screenfeed Jeremy Gavin

#dsinvestor @RishiShah speaks needed truth to the #Digitalsignageindustry: ‘no one is captive’, ‘don’t cook your numbers’ & size matters

17 Oct

Screenfeed Jeremy Gavin

@MathieuBen can you share the link to the video you presented at the #DSinvestor conference?

17 Oct

davidweinfeld David Weinfeld

It’s the era of interactivity in #DOOH - Garry McGuire of@rmgnetworks #dsinvestor

17 Oct

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Stay connected to the Digital Place-based Industry by following @DOmedia on twitter.

If you haven’t seen the agenda yet, check it out here; it really is going to be a great day focused on digital place-based media’s ability to reach consumers at the right time, in the right place with relevant content.  The agenda has a number of topical panels with senior level speakers and some truly provocative thought leaders.

Highlights include:

Speakers:

• Nancy Hill, President & CEO of the 4A’s, will provide her POV on how agencies and media provider’s best interact to bring out optimum results for clients.
• Clay Shirky, NYU professor and frequent TED contributor,will provide his insightful views on technology’s effects on society and consumers. He’s an engaging speaker and no doubt will deliver powerful, thought provoking ideas.
• Paul Price, CEO of Creative Realities Inc.designers and builders of unique digital experiences that bridge the virtual and physical worlds, will speak to best practices in leveraging  brand insights, creative design and digital expertise.
• No doubt, they will inspire!

Panel Discussions:

• The Agency of Tomorrow: How do media agencies best deliver on their client’s objectives in this increasingly convergent digital world?
• Current and Leading Edge Research Solutions: two  panels chock full of insights and learnings
• The Intersection of Digital Place-based, mobile, and social media: How to leverage these touchpoints to most effectively address your client’s objectives
• Successful Case Studies and more……

All this, plus agencies and clients pay only $99 to attend this full day event. A pretty good deal considering that all the movers and shakers in the industry will be there.

It is for all these reasons that we will be there in force and we encourage you to join us on October 19^th for the only conference that will truly help you understand how to leverage this growing medium for your brands or your client’s brands.

I look forward to seeing you there.!

Recent analyst reports forecast ongoing double digital growth for the Dynamic Signage industry in terms of display shipments, advertising and overall industry revenues. DisplaySearch, iSupply, PQ Media, ABI Research, Northern Sky Research, Frost & Sullivan and others all point to growth in the 20% CAGR territory for most areas of the industry.

At the 6^th annual Strategy Institute Digital Signage Investors Conference in New York on October 17-18, 2011 – with its annual focus on the investment status and outlook for the industry – there will surely be a more intense and thoughtful discussion than previous years. Most presenters (and delegates) are industry veterans with others bringing fresh perspectives at industry touch points.

Digital place-based media has achieved a critical mass of installed base of networks, established its infrastructure of associations, events, awards and education, developed supply chains and refined its technologies and business processes. It has also proven itself as an influential media that can simultaneously merchandise, brand and improve a location experience. The investment drivers for advertising-based, corporate and hybrid networks have been continuously refined during industry maturity, and these too will be a key part of the event information take-ways.

While serving as Chair of the Digital Screenmedia Association, Stuart Armstrong, President North America of ComQi would note that “every part of the industry needed to have enough sail up to catch its share of coming winds”. As all elements of the industry appear ready to enjoy triple digit growth (some companies already are), many will continue to be satisfied with 2-digit numbers, but this too will call on astute management.

During the 2-day event, new industry opportunities will be outlined and best practices in business acceleration will be profiled. Furthermore, a consensus to the answers to two of this industry’s primary questions may finally emerge: a) Is the current level of projected growth sustainable and suitable to supply and b) How should managed acceleration be achieved?

A survey by DigitalSignageToday that compares the views of 1200 respondents in 2011 to their 2009 views reflects that:

• Expenditure increases are planned. In 2009, 79% said they planned to spend up to $100K compared with 84% in 2011. 16% of survey respondents in 2011 said they would spend more than $1 million, versus just 6% in 2009.
• 73% expect budget increases over the next year versus the 53% who expected it in 2009.
• 57% of displays are now networked versus just 35% in 2009.
• In 2009, 60% of displays had no third party advertising. In 2011, only 37% have no third party advertising.
• 24% of 2009 survey respondents expected to deploy new or additional screens in the 0-3 month period, whereas 49% of 2011 respondents expect to deploy or add displays.
• Respondents expecting to use Digital Signage primarily for internal communications doubled in the period 2009 to 2011.

Improvements in the design, deployment and operations of networks are ongoing. As the applications grow, and supply of products and services expand – commoditizing and cannibalizing itself – the Return on Investment proposition becomes more important and put under greater scrutiny.

In my session titled “Investing Wisely in DOOH”, I will outline some opportunities, prospects, predictions, and red flags while noting several key industry activity indicators, how and where money is being made in this industry, what mistakes are being repeated and who will have highly successful outcomes.

I look forward to seeing you at the 6^th annual Strategy Institute Digital Signage Investors Conference in New York, October 17-18, 2011.

Lyle Bunn is an independent consultant and educator in North America’s dynamic signage industry who regularly assists end users and investors in their planning and optimization. He has published over 200 articles and whitepapers and regularly presents at industry events. See www.LyleBunn.com or email Lyle at LyleBunn.com

About the Digital Signage Investor

The Digital Signage Investor Conference is the only event bringing together investors, networks, hardware and software companies and M&A specialists. Majority of attendees are Founders, Presidents, Chief Executive Officers, Partners, Principals or Managing Directors.  The summit sheds light on what it takes to grow investment in the DOOH industry. Case studies illustrate success & the speed-networking session facilitates lasting relationships, which have often proved to be the basis upon which deals – both big and small – have been struck in the industry.

3D Projection Mapping – Lexus CT200h – Hollywood CA from Pearl Media

If you were on Hollywood Boulevard on the night of Earth Day, you may have noticed the Roosevelt Hotel coming to life to celebrate the launch of the Lexus CT200h. Pearl Media, the out-of-home media company specializing in converting real estate assets into unique, interactive experiences, developed the state of the art 3D projection that transformed the building into part race track, part stage for the highly anticipated hybrid luxury vehicle. The event caught major media attention and created a larger than life experience for viewers of the launch.

The 8,000 sq ft projection towered over Hollywood Blvd using more than 15 projectors complete with advanced 3D technology, lighting, sound, shadows and animation mapped to the contours of the building that worked together to make images pop out from the walls and windows of the hotel. Pearl Media’s proprietary HD-3D technology displayed a breathtaking display of entertainment in HD theater quality. The show was approximately 4.5 minutes in length – far longer than a traditional broadcast advertising spot. The length and dynamic content presented a challenge for the worthy creative departments. They were charged with producing content that maintained a focus on brand messaging while avoiding the pitfall of becoming a novelty due to format.

The event generated a significant amount of buzz and was featured both on Extra TV and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

According to Paul Whitney, Chief Operating Officer of Pearl Media, the creative process typically takes approximately 2.5 months for a campaign of this magnitude. The Roosevelt Hotel was first put through a sophisticated measurement process which gathered geometrical specifications about the building’s dimensions, down to each brick and window, used to render CAT drawings to create a template for the show. Each animated asset is then created by Pearl Media’s in house animators. The company also has expertise with attaining special permits and setup for events. The creative agencies for this event were Zenith Optimedia and Team 1.

Josh Cohen, President of Pearl Media, has hinted at similar campaigns to be launched this year in the US. For clips of the Lexus Earth Night show and other industry leading projection technology campaigns see Pearl Media’s company profile in the DOmedia Marketplace.

For more information about Pearl Media, please contact:
Paul Whitney | Chief Operating Officer | 973.492.2300 ext 13 | pwhitney@pearlmediaus.com | www.pearlmediaus.com

This season, the leaves are changing, the air is getting crisper, and the big brands are taking it outside… Outside of the home, that is.

When deciding how to build excitement and promote tune-in for the new fall schedule, Fox chose to move away from the TV commercials to focus on OOH, taking advantage of traditional formats along with digital billboards and networks. The driving factor behind the new move to digital? — the ability to show full-length pilots for some of this season’s lineup, such as “Raising Hope” and “Lone Star”. Full pilots ran on three major airlines, the Hotel Networks and Princess Cruises, and street-level video networks at subway stations.

Next up: Budweiser. The king of beers (whose recent sales would suggest he’s been overthrown) needed to find a way to cozy up to young under-30 beer drinkers. The solution? In-bar promotions. The bait? Free beer! The campaign started earlier this week, encouraging under-30′s to “Grab some Buds,” and reaches it’s high point tonight as the brand hosts the “Budweiser National Happy Hour.”

So what does a company do when they want to reach active 20 and 30-something’s who don’t spend their time watching TV and surfing the net? They go to them! Just ask Mitsubishi, who recently found a new way to reach the M-Generation, their target demographic whose lifestyles closely tie in with some of the vehicles’ “personalities”. The brand decided to take it on the road, showing up at races, trail heads for mountain biking, dog parks and more, asking people along the way–”What Are You Into?”

From the beginning, the issue has been one of raising awareness, change, and funds to help local residents. To do this, Adams Outdoor Advertising used the power of OOH media to bring the situation into daily conversations. Using their own billboards, they posted creative showing a sad face with eyes made of shrimp and a mouth made of an oily brushstroke. Not only is the ad effective in getting your attention, it also brings the realization that the spill touched everyone in the area… especially those fishermen whose livelihoods depend on ocean life.

On the other side of the spectrum, Patron Tequila took a fun approach to raising money for Gulf residents. The St. Bernard Project partnered with The Patron Spirits Company to create the “Patrón Tequila Epicurean Express,” a restored 1927 train car that toured the country, stopping for two nights in select cities. In exchange for donations, people could board the train for a cocktail party the first night, while big spenders were also invited to a gourmet dinner the second night.

Other areas of the Coast, such as the Florida Panhandle, are finding creative ways to lure tourists back to the area they claim is unaffected by the spill. And what better way to inform people that your vacation destination is as oil-free as ever than to show them? VP of marketing for the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, for example, is using digital billboards to post images of the pristine beaches she snapped using her iPhone. The images are then displayed alongside messages like “Our Coast is Clear” and “Wish you were here.”

Who says the mundane tasks of our lives can’t be spiced up a little bit? The people at Volkswagen clearly have the creativity to do just that. After the wildly popular Fun Theory experiment, Volkswagen has now rolled out its sister campaign, the Fast Lane Theory. Life is always a little more fun in the fast lane, doesn’t it seem? Even better when you’re cruising in a Volkswagen on the Autobahn in Germany.

In the Alexanderplatz subway station in Berlin, Volkswagen constructed a slide to run the length of the stairway so that when walkers approached at the top of the stairs they had 2 options: a) take the stairs allll the way down or b) zip down the slide in 2 seconds. What would you pick? Check out the excitement that ensues.

In another unexpected place, the grocery store, the genius VW people assembled a grocery cart with a skateboard attached to the bottom, just under the handlebar. Think back to what you did as a kid (which most likely drove your mom crazy): run with the cart, jump on the bottom shelf and coast down the aisles, narrowly missing the four foot high display of paper towels at the end or the elderly lady reaching for the sugar on the top shelf. The reactions are the greatest part of the experiment, in my opinion. There were some people who were a tad confused by all the fun during such a boring chore as grocery shopping and others totally embraced the fast lane. Either way, we applaud Volkswagen for bringing out the kid in everyone again.

Across the pond, a VW competitor has also created a promotion gimmick this summer. Volvo is working to bring back the essence of movie drive-ins, only this time with all Volvo cars provided. You don’t even need a driver’s license! Dubbed the “Volvo Starlite Urban Drive-In”, Volvo has picked the cultural Truman Brewery in London to host the event. Once you’ve booked your tickets, pick out one of the 25 Volvos on location to pack in with a friend – 2 per car – and enjoy the movie on screen, whether it is Dirty Dancing or Grease. You can’t go wrong with Johnny Castle’s twisting hips or Danny Zuko’s retro leather jacket. Feeling hungry? Order some popcorn from one of the waitresses zipping through the lot on her roller skates. The Starlite’s success was so overwhelming (tickets sold out in less than a minute!) the creators are considering packing up and taking the event nationwide.

Let’s start in Melbourne, Australia, where Adidas has placed a huge (19 feet high and 2 tons!) Jubalani soccer ball outside a crowded tourist-y area and has a young whippersnapper who plans to live in the ball for the entire length of the World Cup. By entire, we mean 22 to 24 hours a day!  The lucky guy, Adam Santarossa, is set up with a flat screen TV, computer, Playstation, couch, bed, free food and drink, and all he has to do is use social media to keep the world updated on his new lifestyle and, of course, offer his commentary on the soccer games.

A hop, skip away in London, the famous Piccadilly Circus square features a digital screen sponsored by Coca-Cola that runs live video of fans’ celebratory dances. The stunt, aptly named “What’s Your Celebration”, engages passersby by first calling them out. The people manning the board use a laptop to type messages to the people looking at the screen and then call them to the piece of Astroturf grass and corner flag to perform their best victory dance. Their video is then posted on the screen for the entire square to see.

Heading south to Johannesburg, Nike is promoting its “Write the Future” campaign where fans can type a message up to 57 characters via the promotion’s Facebook page, Twitter (#NikeFuture), QQ (in China) and Mxit (in South Africa) to any of 50 Nike-endorsed soccer pros. Select messages are then displayed on the fourth largest building in the city along with awesome graphic images of players like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Much like the Olympics or the Super Bowl, the World Cup offers companies the chance to market to mass consumers in innovative and new ways. This year is no different –the creativity continues to flow and we are all very impressed with what we’ve seen. Now if only the U.S. had beaten Ghana…