CBS Outdoor has successfully retained the contract to manage the advertising on FirstGroup buses in the UK for a further five years, starting in April 2009 when the current contract expires. The deal, to sell advertising on the UK’s largest bus operator, is worth in excess of £140m over the five year period.
Under the terms of the new contract with First Group, CBS Outdoor will continue to manage all advertising opportunities on the company’s fleet of nearly 9,000 buses operating across the UK, carrying 3 million passengers a day in more than 40 major towns and cities including Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, Glasgow and London. First Group runs more than one in five of all local bus services in the UK.
The appointment reaffirms CBS Outdoor’s position as the leading bus advertising business in the UK.
CBS Outdoor also manages the advertising asset for all FirstGroup rail franchises - First Capital Connect, First Great Western, First Scotrail and First TransPennine Express.
Jason Cotterrell, Commercial Director at CBS Outdoor commented:
“We are delighted to be working with FirstGroup for another 5 years, this is a long term partnership that continues to flourish as we work closer together to develop new products such as the Super 12 and open up new sectors and new advertising opportunities, FirstGroup are supportive and ground breaking.”
“The renewed contract with First demonstrates their confidence in us to successfully manage their advertising asset and maximise revenue through innovative marketing and new product development. CBS Outdoor will continue to promote the medium with a single voice to compete fiercely for advertising revenue."
Leon Daniels, Customer Service and Communications Director, First Group UK Bus commented
“CBS’s proposal to deliver the advertising concession for a further 5 years was outstanding. They understand our business and our operating requirements which means they deliver considerable revenue to us whilst working safely and unobtrusively in our depots. Bus advertising is an exciting medium and in these testing times CBS Outdoor is well placed to deliver for us."