Bus advertising

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Bus advertising, ACTION bus, Canberra, Australia
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Bus advertising, ACTION bus, Canberra, Australia

Bus advertising is a popular way for advertisers to reach the public in metropolitan areas. Ads are placed in bus shelters or on the backs of benches at stops. Inside the bus, ads are sometimes attached to the corners between the walls and ceiling overhead, or on monitors throughout the vehicle. Externally, placards known as "boards" can be placed on the front, sides, and rear of a bus.

London, UK double decker AEC Routemaster with advertising on front and sides 6 January 2005.
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London, UK double decker AEC Routemaster with advertising on front and sides 6 January 2005.

The municipality will often sell the rights to place advertising on public property to a media provider. A client will ask for a board to promote its product or approve the recommendation of the advertiser. An advertiser then asks a media broker to arrange for the purchase. The broker coordinates with the advertiser and the provider and collects a commission. The provider keeps the difference between what it collects and the payments it makes to the government agency.

[edit] Early Development

Advertising for the New York Aquarium. Note how the "ripped" end merges with the standard livery.
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Advertising for the New York Aquarium. Note how the "ripped" end merges with the standard livery.

Bus advertising descends from similar methods used on streetcars in the early 20th century. Rapid transits and other systems employ many of these techniques, but sometimes eschew external advertising since the vehicles are sometimes not visible from the street.

[edit] Bus wraps

Occasionally, entire buses are turned into an advertisement in a "wrap" where decals are applied to all of the bus's visible exterior.