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Hi-Def Screens Bring In New Revenue

Posted by
on March 13th, 2014 at 3:10 pm

With the effects of yesterday’s explosion mainly behind Metro-North, time for some financial news. The MTA has announced that its new hi-def screens that were recently installed will bring in added revenue:

Novel forms of advertising continue to be introduced in the subway as part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) efforts to increase revenue from ad space. The latest, which went live on March 3, are ten digital advertising screens placed at ten stations in Manhattan.

The digital screens, managed by the MTA’s advertising contractor CBS Outdoor, exclusively show Turner Broadcasting content. These high-definition screens are the first to be placed inside subway stations for digital advertising and will be used to promote coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.

“The MTA views digital screens as playing an increasingly important role in the future of advertising inside our system. It is also great to see the evolution of a brand utilizing advertising at our subway stations in innovative ways,” said Jeffrey Rosen, MTA Director of Real Estate.

During the Major League Baseball playoffs in 2010, Turner’s wrapping of our Times Square Shuttle included small digital screens that showed customers video clips from playoff games. Now less than four years later, the MTA and Turner Broadcasting have entered into an agreement for the digital screens – through connectivity supported by Transit Wireless. The Transit Wireless network infrastructure is enabling the streaming of content to CBS Outdoor displays within the ten select subway stations.

“This is yet another example of how having state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure in the New York City subway system supports new technology projects that enhance the rider experience,” said William A. Bayne Jr., CEO of Transit Wireless. “The Transit Wireless network will continue to partner with the MTA and New York City Transit to bring innovate new concepts to the New York City subway system.”

The MTA will continue to garner opportunities to add more digital screens to the transit system. In addition to increasing advertising revenue, the digital screens also have the ability to provide important information to customers. The screens will serve as a platform if there is ever a need to broadcast an emergency notification to customers.

Revenue from the sale of advertising in the MTA transit system has risen dramatically – from $38 million in 1997 to more than $130 million in 2013. Among the MTA’s recent initiatives designed to increase ad revenue are station domination campaigns in which advertisers are invited to take over entire stations and digital displays on trains, buses and stations. Advertising on MetroCards has also been a success. Digital Urban Panels with digital advertising are already in place at station entrances and On-the-Go Screens, way finding kiosks with ads, continue to be placed in the system.

Standing 66 inches high, and 36 inches wide, Turner will use the new screens to promote the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, and will also stream promos for its entertainment and news programming on TNT, TBS, truTV, Adult Swim and CNN. The current agreement will keep the units in place through at least March 2015 but Turner has expressed interest in expanding the network years beyond.

The screens are at the following stations:

1) Grand Central-42 St 4567 @ Chrysler Bldg.
2) 42St-Bryant Pk BDFM
3) 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal ACE
4) 59 St-Columbus Circle 1ACBD
5) 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr BDFM
6) 34 St-Herald Sq BDFMNQR
7) 66 St- Lincoln Center 1
8) Times Sq-42 St 1237NQRS
9) 49 St NQR
10) 23 St FM

I will be curious to see the first year results of how much revenue comes in from them. I imagine it should be a significant addition to the ledger if the opportunity available is promoted correctly.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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MTA Finances
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Metro North Resumes All Service

Posted by
on March 12th, 2014 at 7:12 pm

The MTA Metro-North Railroad has announced that it has resumed all service from Grand Central:

MTA Metro-North Railroad has restored all service to and from Grand Central Terminal after an explosion and building collapse next to Metro-North’s tracks running above Park Avenue. New Haven and Harlem line service was restored earlier in the afternoon, and Hudson Line service was restored as additional tracks reopened.

Metro-North structural engineers have verified the integrity of the Park Avenue elevated structure. And all four tracks have been restored to service after being cleared of debris, inspected for track and third rail integrity and approved for operations by Metro-North and the New York City Fire Department.

Trains will run at reduced speeds through the collapse zone to protect nearby employees and reduce vibrations as rescue and recovery work continues. This will result in some delays and crowding through the rush hour.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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1

Metro North Service Plan Info 03/12/14

Posted by
on March 12th, 2014 at 3:37 pm

As we all know by now, a horrific building explosion took place in Manhattan today. This has caused major issues for Metro-North service which led to a different service plan.

The plan was announced a short time ago with an end time in mind. However I just received word that the plan is in place until further notice:

MTA Metro-North Railroad customers traveling to New York City today will be taken to stations in the Bronx where they can transfer to the subway for travel to Manhattan. The subway will cross honor Metro-North tickets. Customers wishing to travel north today out of Grand Central Terminal should take the New York City Subway to points in the Bronx as detailed below.

This service plan will remain in effect until further notice.

Harlem Line & New Haven Line:

Southbound customers from the New Haven Line and Harlem Line will get off at the Harlem Line stations or Wakefield or Woodlawn for a short walk to the No. 2 for service to Manhattan. Customers can transfer to the No. 5 at E. 180th Street for East Side destinations.

Northbound customers for all Harlem and New Haven Line stations should take the No. 5 subway to East 180th Street and transfer to the No. 2 subway north to the 233rd Street Station, where they can walk a short distance to the Metro-North’s Woodlawn Station.

Hudson Line:

Hudson Line customers should take the No. 4 to 161st Street Station (Yankee Stadium) and walk west to Metro-North’s Yankees – East 153rd Street station for service to points north. The D subway also goes to 161st Street.

Southbound Hudson Line customers will go to Yankees-East 153rd Street and transfer to the No. 4 or D subways, or to Marble Hill and transfer to the No. 1 subway at 225th Street, an elevated station.

There are no stranded trains. Power has been cut to the third rail to all 4 tracks in the neighborhood of the explosion. Metro-North urges customers to consider limiting travel today if they can.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 03-07-14

Posted by
on March 7th, 2014 at 2:41 am

Get a head start on your weekend plans as I have just updated the Service Diversions through all of next week.

Make sure to follow @TransitBlogger on Twitter by clicking the button in the sidebar as I am using it more often. Also if you are into indie music make sure to follow @IndMusicReview & @SurgeFM!

Have a safe & wonderful weekend.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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FASTRACK Returns To 6th Ave Lines

Posted by
on March 6th, 2014 at 6:56 pm

MTA NYC Transit’s FASTRACK program will be returning to the 6th Ave lines next week. Here are the details:

On Monday, March 10, MTA New York City Transit brings FASTRACK to B D F M stations in Manhattan. For four consecutive weeknights from Monday, March 10, to early Friday morning, March 14, B D F M trains will not stop at the following 6 Av stations: 14 St, 23 St, 34 St-Herald Sq, 42 St-Bryant Pk, 47-50 Sts, and 57 St. D and F trains are rerouted on the 8 Av ACE line. B and M service ends early in Manhattan each night.

Travel alternatives:

• Use 8 Av A C E stations to connect with D and F trains.

• For D service between Manhattan and Brooklyn, transfer between D trains at B’way-Lafayette St to continue your trip.

• Take the Q train for service to/from Lexington Av/63 St, Roosevelt Island, and 21 St-Queensbridge.

• Transfer between F and Q trains at 42 St-Port Authority/Times Sq-42 St, through the passageway. B D F M trains will operate as follows:
D trains are rerouted and operate in two sections:

1. Between 205 St and the 2 Av F station, via C line between 145 St and W 4 St, and via the F line to/from 2 Av, the last stop.

2. Between Stillwell Av and the W 4 St station: W 4 St is the last stop for D trains originating in Brooklyn.

F trains run via the E line between W 4 St and Roosevelt Av, in both directions. For service to Lexington Av/63 St, Roosevelt Island, and 21 St-Queensbridge, take a Q train.

Q trains are extended to 21 St-Queensbridge via the F line after 57 St-7 Av.

• Trains run to/from Lexington Av/63 St, Roosevelt Island, and 21 St-Queensbridge, the last stop.

• Coney Island-bound Q trains originate at 21 St-Queensbridge. B and M service ends early each night (times are approximate):

• Manhattan-bound service in Brooklyn and Queens ends at 9:30 p.m.

• Service in Manhattan is available until 10 p.m.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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