Billboards and advertisements still up?

I was wondering if anyone knows if shows that still have advertisements up on billboards in timesquare or placed at the turnstiles of various subway stations are still paying for those advertisements spots. Mostly intrigued by the Beetlejuice timesquare billboard still being up.

Updated On: 1/19/21 at 12:33 PM

This makes me think of the hilarious story Bruce Vilanch told where he mentioned that it was Mamma Mia that finally took down a sign on the roof of the Winter Garden that was from Carol Channing in "The Vamp" from 1955!

JBroadway is correct. The companies that manage the installation of the ad usually don't take it down until there's a new ad to go up. No sense in paying someone to go out twice. The installation/removal of a billboard in Times Square is not an insignificant cost.

The rules are different billboards vs. subway station ads as some have pointed out. But for the subway, as JBroadway has said, it is not uncommon for ads to stay up well past their expiration date if there isn't much new ad space being bought. (and sometimes its just random, as a worker may not catch something that should have been taken down). My theater still has a few posters up at various stations from our holiday show...from 2 years ago! haha

Fosse76 said: "The answer is yes, for the most part. As of last week Wicked still had ads in the 42nd Street subway station."

As others have said -- the answer is no. Even if the show is not officially closed. no one is paying to keep pre-existing posters or billboards up. Unless there is something new to replace the ad space, the owner is not going to pay for the expense of taking the old ads down.

itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "Call_me_jorge said: "Are most billboards and advertisements paid for with a one time payment rather than periodically? I assumed billboards are paid for month to month, rather than like having a contract for certain time for that advertising spot."

They're contracted for a period of time (not necessarily in 30-day increments), digital billboards can be bought for as little as a day, and in-demand spots can command long minimum runs.For Broadway shows, the billboard company will want that money upfront. They know a show that commits to 90 days may not be around long enough to keep makingmonthly payments."

The industry standard is that if an advertiser signs off on a period of time (say, six months) and pays up front (rather than monthly) the advertiser will get a bit of a discount - used to be 10% or 15%. I don't know it Times Square is part of 'the industry standard' or not, but I'm betting they make up their own rules.

My favorite poster is On The Town still featured at the Bronxville Metro North stop.

Wow, all the way back from 1944?!

Come on, it's a JOKE, people. We all know it's probably the 2014 revival.

JSquared2 said: "Fosse76 said: "The answer is yes, for the most part. As of last week Wicked still had ads in the 42nd Street subway station."

As others have said -- the answer is no. Even if the show is not officially closed. no oneis paying to keep pre-existing posters or billboards up. Unless there is something new to replace the ad space, the owner is not going to pay for the expense of taking the old ads down."

I used the subway as an example, since the Times Square stations are usually updated frequently (and by that I mean almost weekly). That aside, you are wrong. A brief walk through Times Square and you will still see billboards advertising Broadway shows.