9 April 2009

Times Square here we come?

| johnboy
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The Canberra Centre has for some time been converting its exterior into paid billboards, of the sort Canberrans had thought were not permitted in this town.

But today I came across this unit on the outside of the old Centre Cinema building.

It’s got a whole slideshow of ads loaded.

Now, like all commercial media, RiotACT would dearly love to be the only advertising medium in town. But we’re resigned to having to compete for our pennies.

Also I actually love billboards when I travel and have always thought Canberra was the poorer for not having them (within well defined limits).

But if this monitor contraption is OK where do we draw the line all the way up to Times Square of Piccadilly Circus?

(Times Square photo by zoonabar.)

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It is probably there for those lining up to get into the club. As how often does anyone walk up Bunda Street towards City Interchange with their heads up?

I think that little monitor looks a bit silly really. If it were an enormous square filled with neon, all well and good, but that’s a little bit embarrassing.

harvyk1 said :

I think they can get away with it as it’s all on private property. Traditional billboards (like the ones in Sydney) are built for the most part on public property.

There are restrictions, even on private property (most commercial buildings are privately owned after all). It is entirely possible that it does in fact breach NCA restrictions, and that the authorities haven’t noticed it. As Furry Jesus pointed out, it’s not in a prominent location.

But I’m not gunner dob…

What we need is a RiotACT news ticker out there.

Consumer pays $5 too much for pizza….. Canberran’s say that Canberrans can’t drive….. News at 11…..

I love billboards. Deffinatly moving Civic out of the stone age.

Is this “spot the difference”? Because there are quite a few.

I find those sorts of billboards add a certain modernity, an affluence, to a city. I can appreciate them despite the ads due simply to their scale. With Times Square in mind, once you learn to filter out the advertising the displays are immense, year round colourful decorative lights. Which is cheering.

I would draw the line at sound.

Yeah I noticed it for the first time this morning. Don’t know when it was installed, but it’s one of many advertising pieces that now adorn our city.

I think they can get away with it as it’s all on private property. Traditional billboards (like the ones in Sydney) are built for the most part on public property.

That said I personally don’t mind them in the middle of a city.

The position is interesting. Who are the likely viewers? People sitting at the end of Gus’s outdoor enclosure on Bunda St, and people walking past Gus’s towards the bus interchange?

Holden Caulfield12:51 pm 09 Apr 09

deye said :

That’s been there for a few months. Funny thing was when it was advertising Earth hour.

Really?! I haven’t noticed it before. Better open my eyes next time I am in town.

That’s been there for a few months. Funny thing was when it was advertising Earth hour.

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