White Plains Mayor Joseph M. Delfino announced today that the City of
White Plains and Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO)
unveiled the nation’s first digital display communications network
concentrated in a downtown area. At no cost to the City, this project
allows almost instantaneous communications between City Departments and
the general public within visual distance of the signs.
The state-of-the-art network consists of eight 6’ x 3.3’ displays
installed exclusively on City of White Plains Department of Parking
properties in high impact locations throughout downtown White Plains.
The network will rotate static advertising images on each display in an
8-second loop. This digital sign network expands upon MD Sales &
Marketing’s ongoing contract with the City of White Plains Department of
Parking.
The City of White Plains enjoys exclusive use of discreet digital
scrollers on each display to reach the public more effectively with
messaging that can be changed on a moment’s notice, as frequently as
needed. In addition to directing parking and traffic in the vicinity of
its parking facilities, the flexibility of the digital network benefits
the City with real-time display of vital information to the public in
the event of disaster or Amber Alerts.
"The public’s safety always comes before all else,” said Mayor Delfino,
"and thanks to Clear Channel and MD Sales & Marketing, White Plains has
another very effective tool to help ensure the well-being of our
residents and visitors.” The mayor expressed gratitude to the companies
and to the innovative Parking Department for enabling the City "to enjoy
another ‘first’ in the country, with a downtown concentrated network for
displaying not only emergency and traffic information but also City
events, festivals, concerts and the messages of our many civic and
charity organizations.”
Tim Kennedy, President/General Manager, Clear Channel Outdoor New York
was on hand to proclaim the White Plains digital display network as a
"technologically advanced, first of its kind outdoor communication tool.
Digital technology is the most effective way to reach the increasingly
transient public and has proven emergency and public safety messaging
capabilities,” he said. "Consistently ahead of the curve, White Plains
continues to be the ‘Renaissance City’ even in these difficult times,
and this new program will assist local businesses and spur local
economic activity.”
Business and restaurant owners, such as Brian McGroarty at Elements Food
& Spirits in White Plains are delighted at the advertising opportunity.
"Elements Food & Spirits will be part of this exciting innovation
because the signs’ high visibility will result in more activity and
greater revenues for all advertisers,” said Mr. McGroarty who also
catered the post-unveiling reception.
"It’s very satisfying to realize that my firm’s success also benefits
the taxpayers in White Plains,” said Mike Dougherty of MD Sales and
Marketing. "Residents should know that Al turned a yearly budgeted cost
into not only a savings for the City but a new revenue stream,” he said,
referring to White Plains’ Commissioner of Parking Al Moroni. "This
could be a new business model for other major cities around the country
which would also gain an enhanced downtown appearance,” Dougherty said.
Already known for the unusually appealing aesthetics of the
newly-completed Longview Garage, Commissioner Moroni considers the new
digital signs as an enhancement to the appearance of downtown. "Under
the leadership of Mayor Delfino, White Plains has blossomed into a very
attractive and vibrant city,” he said. "The Parking Department does what
it can with design and lighting to make our parking facilities as safe
and attractive as possible.”
White Plains, situated only 25 miles north of Manhattan, is one of the
nation’s top suburban and retail centers. The City has a population of
56,000 residents, but this number rises to over 200,000 during the day
as office workers, shoppers and visitors arrive by car, rail, bus or
plane. White Plains is the business capital of Westchester County,
serves as the County Seat, and is also home to Federal, State and County
court offices. It houses a multi-modal public transportation system, an
airport and is the gateway to metropolitan and upstate New York, New
England and points north, while also located an hour’s drive from four
major Metropolitan airports.
About Clear Channel Outdoor
Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE:CCO)
is the world’s largest outdoor advertising company with close to one
million displays in over 50 countries across 5 continents. In the United
States, the company operates just under 200,000 advertising displays and
has a presence in 49 of the top 50 Designated Market Areas. It also
operates airport, rail, taxi and mall advertising businesses worldwide.
Its Spectacolor (U.S.) and DEFI (international) divisions are the global
market leaders in spectacular sign displays, including in New York’s
Times Square. Clear Channel Adshel is the company’s international street
furniture division, which operates over 3,500 municipal advertising
contracts worldwide. Clear Channel Outdoor also operates digital
displays and networks in most of its divisions. More information may be
found by visiting www.clearchanneloutdoor.com.