Feature News

Web-Based "Wanna Billboard" System Lets Local Advertisers Create Their Own Outdoor Signage

Clients Can Access Vast Library of Ad-Agency Quality Creative in Crafting their Own Local Media

NEW YORK, March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- CBS Outdoor announced today the launch of wannaBILLBOARD.com, a new web-based service that lets local advertisers choose their own outdoor ad creative from a catalog of customizable, ad-agency quality designs. The web-based program offers clients more than 50 local categories to start from, letting advertisers choose industry-tested templates to start the design process. Entirely customizable, clients can then add in their business name, address and contact information, as well as a text code to action, in just a matter of minutes.

The new program is just the latest offering from CBS Outdoor seeking to eliminate the lack of creative as a barrier to entry that has prevented many smaller advertisers from taking advantage of out-of-home media. No matter what the economic situation is like, businesses still need to advertise, and wannaBILLBOARD.com will allow them, both large and small, to access the kind of professional ad-agency quality designs they could not have afforded before.

The process begins with clients selecting designs from CBS Outdoor's library of creative, which includes many categories of businesses and different style designs. The website allows advertisers to customize the ad space, including uploading their own logos into specified areas of the creative. They can also choose what type of media they want from a menu of different options, including billboards, bus ads, kiosks, bus shelters, etc.

Once the design process is complete, clients can search and then choose their preferred locations, using a map element to the site that allows users to zoom in on specific areas to see the billboard in its natural surroundings. Finally, wannaBILLBOARD.com lets the client request specific space for their signage from CBS Outdoor's vast portfolio of outdoor media, one of the largest collections in North America.

"wannaBILLBOARD.com gives local advertisers entree into a medium they might not have considered before," explained Jodi Senese, Executive Vice President, Marketing, CBS Outdoor. "We are offering a portfolio of the very best designs by CBS Outdoor artists, and it's a collection that will consistently expand in choices and categories. This is a great way for local advertisers to begin the out-of-home media experience, with a hands-on-element few other advertising media can offer."

There are plans to grow wannaBILLBOARD.com beyond its current stage with more enhanced features and greater customizability for clients. CBS Outdoor has begun promoting the site through radio and its nation-wide network of billboards and transit ads.

CBS Outdoor is one of the largest out-of-home media companies in North America, and has a major presence across the globe. With both traditional outdoor and transit properties, the division gives advertisers both breadth of coverage across vast geographies and depth of coverage, providing multiple media opportunities in key markets.

CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and The CW -- a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), cable television (Showtime and CSTV Networks), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), interactive media (CBS Interactive), music (CBS Records), licensing and merchandising (CBS Consumer Products) and video/ DVD (CBS Home Entertainment). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.