Recent ownership changes have effectively shifted the transit advertising medium into reverse.

Transit has gone from ‘one-stop shopping’ to a jigsaw puzzle of ownership and representation. I am certainly not one to criticize the benefits of multi-ownership in this merge-happy environment. However, I do not understand why the various parties have not come up with a single representative to streamline the planning/buying process.

With the crushing workload placed on agency media people these days, I can foresee the situation when an overworked [and underpaid] planner decides to omit transit from a plan simply because the planner does not have time to put the puzzle together. Considering the wide variety of alternative media options available, which provide similar targeting and are accessible via a single call, it may already be common practice in some circles.

I would be interested in hearing from somebody on the ownership/ rep side to explain why the step backward and why have they not come up with a much-needed remedy.

Billy Tiegs

President

TiegsMedia

Toronto, Ont