APN Outdoor has renewed its contract with Sydney Trains, covering around 1500 advertising panels.
The company says the new contract will not change the split between print and digital assets, a reassuring point for printers, and out-of-home specialists, in a market which is increasingly shifting towards digital.
APN does have plans to convert signs to digital in other projects, namely its advertising in the Tullamarine freeway and Metro Trains Melbourne. The company put out with its financial results plans for a digital billboard conversion rollout with 20 to 25 new digital screens this year.
APN uses production house GSP in Braeside – which it acquired – for much of its print work.
[Related: APN revenue rises to $342.9m]
James Warburton, CEO at APN Outdoor says, “It is an important contract, and we are delighted to renew with Sydney Trains. It is a 20 year association, and it is a great contract to be continuing to bring to the market.
“We have our classic printed posters, and the Xtrack television network, including screens and digital assets. There will be no change on the split of digital and print assets in the renewed contract.”
“That is 32 digital screens, the Xtrack television screens running content from television, plus advertisements from clients, 550 posters, which is the classic portion, as well as the premium backlit posters, and the static and digital billboards. It is about 1500 advertising spaces.
“It is similar to the last contract, and includes all the billboards on land owned by Sydney trains.
“We always look into major contracts and look at opportunities, and where we see opportunities for improving and updating sites, maximising assets.”
While rival outdoor media businesses oOh! and QMS revealed that digital media had overtaken print for the first time in their half year results, print still remains major income source for APN at 62 per cent. However like other outdoor advertising companies, APN saw a rise in its digital revenue, up 13 per cent while revenue from classic (print) adverts has stabilised.
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