Downtown Montréal boasts the very first Digital Column network, an Astral Out-of-Home innovation

MONTREAL, Sept. 11, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Astral Out-of-Home, a division of Astral Media Inc. (TSX: ACM.A ACM.B), proudly announces that it has completed the installation of its new Digital Column network in the heart of downtown Montréal. This innovative network consists of 30 columns installed at the hub of urban activities, bordered by Atwater Avenue to the west, René-Lévesque Boulevard to the south, Sherbrooke Street to the north, and St. Denis Street to the east.

The new Digital Columns are equipped with a 72" HD advertising screen using the latest LCD technology to produce a crisp reflection-free image and thus display six ads running in a continuous loop. In addition, a map of downtown Montréal can be found on the other side.

"That is why we are so proud of deploying the first network of its kind in the country and of enabling Montréal to benefit from a major development in advertising. Astral Out-of-Home has made it its priority to invest in research and development to offer advertisers state-of-the-art, trend-setting advertising platforms that are in sync with today's increasingly mobile consumers," said Luc Sabbatini, President, Astral Out-of-Home.

Pushing back the boundaries of creativity and offering greater flexibility, the Digital Columns facilitate interactions between advertisers and consumers. Their innovative features, such as QR codes and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, enable advertisers to reach consumers directly via their mobile phone. It provides advertisers with a unique opportunity to increase their connectivity and extend the experience of the consumer with their brand—this same consumer who wants to have ready access to information.

Astral Out-of-Home is one of Canada's leading out-of-home advertising companies with more than 9,500 strategically-placed advertising faces in key markets in Québec, Ontario, and British Columbia. As a forward-looking company, Astral Out-of-Home has embarked on a series of green-and-clean initiatives to reduce its ecological footprint and actively participate in sustainable development.

Founded in 1961, Astral is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates several media properties—pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and digital media properties—among the most popular in the country. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers alike. To find out more about Astral, go to astral.com.

 

SOURCE: ASTRAL MEDIA INC.

Business media: 

Olivier Racette
Advisor
Corporate Communications
Astral Media Inc.
514 939-5000
[email protected]

Trade and Industry publications: 

Nathalie Doré
Vice President, Marketing and Media Creativity
Astral Out-of-Home
514 529-3204
[email protected]