One rider wrote to "Going Public" about the promotional audio ads for Chicago's 2016 bid on CTA buses. While riding buses yesterday, "Going Public" heard these ads eight times. The ads were on the No. 6 Jackson Park Express, the No. 66 Chicago Avenue bus and the No. 28 Stony Island Local.
The ad was also on the No. 65 Grand bus this morning. Did you hear the ads? What did you think?
"Going Public" has reached out to the CTA about these ads. Will update with more information.
***Update: The rider said she received this response from the CTA: "Thank you for your feedback. The CTA is airing messages in support of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games. The advertisements were produced and paid for by Chicago 2016."
***Update 2: The CTA said it is airing "messages," not ads, "in support of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics" on all buses from Sept. 10 through Oct. 1. The ads are in rotation with other messages about every 20 minutes, the CTA said. "The messages were produced and paid for by 2016. CTA is airing them to show its support for Chicago's bid. CTA does not sell audio advertising," according to the CTA press office.
"I was shocked to hear the blaring Olympic 'Welcome to Chicago' promotional announcements on the No. 80 bus yesterday and this morning. I thought the PA system was for CTA announcements, not self-serving Olympic promotions! We are a captive audience on the bus. Why should we have to listen to commercials? Are there guidelines in place about the use of the public address system on the CTA?"
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Have you heard the Olympics ads on the CTA?
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tracyswartz olympian voices support for chicago 2016 in audio ad on #cta no. 6. some eye rolling on bus. thoughts? 1st time ive heard audio ad on bus.
rafmonster @tracyswartz they don't need to convince us. Convince them
bvicars @tracyswartz the only audio i want to hear on morning #cta bus or train is the next stop alert...
AlixRymsWthOrnj @redeyechicago I like them. At least it's something different that I can't repeat verbatim...yet.
pinsuda I back the bid but agree on the ads being annoying. Bus PA is for announcements only not ads. http://bit.ly/mFt19 (via @tracyswartz)
noefavela @tracyswartz http://bit.ly/SWNIf Next time CTA wants to raise fare they should looking into $$ the pa Air time. I rather listenthen$$more
JackieKnows @redeyechicago @tracyswartz -Some one should poll 11 year olds to see what they think - they will be the new generation of taxpayers in 2016
alypaige RT @redeyechicago Have you heard the Olympics ads on the CTA? What do you think?<---not loving them.and they aren't exciting people.wasted$.
dsolzman @redeyechicago they are annoying. what's next, talking holograms?
ChiSteven @redeyechicago The Olympic ads are kind of cool. I hear it every morning on the bus, I hope it shows the support Chicago has to everyone
Harriskaycma @redeyechicago it's really annoying! Couldn't they just post signs? I'm all for having it, but I don't want it shoved down my throat.
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4 Comments
redvelvetrose said:
Heard it in the 93 Northbound yesterday at 7am. Actually startled me since I had already successfully tuned out the more mellow-voiced VO calling out the stops. No complaint really since all it did was interrupt my morning commute nap. ;)
applegirl said:
I heard it today and yesterday on the #65 grand. I didn't think it was real...I even recorded it on my iPhone this morning because I thought I was going crazy.
On one hand I don't like the idea of Olympic ads on the bus because I already feel like the whole Olympics in Chicago thing is being force fed to us. I am not against the Olympics in Chicago I just think the talk about it ALL the time is overwhelming.
On the other hand as someone in advertising I'm intrigued by the idea of audio ads on the CTA. 1) It would make the CTA more money and 2) It's a new venue to reach a targeted audience.
terynjay said:
If someone paid for the airtime, then they ARE ads, and I don't appreciate the propaganda.
Craig Kanalley said:
Heard the ad the last two days on #146. They don't bother me too much, but if I listen to them every day til Oct. 1, that will get very annoying quickly.
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