Advertising Kiosks Exchanged For Rights To Sell Ad Space

Sleek new bus shelters by outdoor advertising giant JCDecaux will soon be seen on the sidewalks of Chicago and Los Angeles. The Paris-based company recently signed with those cities to install thousands of advertising-kiosk shelters and other sidewalk amenities in exchange for the right to sell ad space on them.

Decaux pioneered so called “street-furniture” advertising in France in the 1960s and has spread the concept to major cities across Europe.

(In Europe, Decaux bus shelters are so well maintained that upscale brands such as Christian Dior and Chanel happily advertise on them.)

In a recent contract with Vancouver, as well as the one in L.A., Decaux bid jointly with the outdoor advertising unit of Viacom. The company reports that it’s gearing up for an even bigger deal in New York.