Times Square is one of New York City’s most recognizable attractions, drawing an estimated 50 million visitors annually. With 330,000 people passing through on a daily basis alone, the intersection has rightfully earned its nickname the “crossroads of the world.” Its current status as both a commercial and cultural hub has made it a magnet for garish billboards and flashy advertisements, which have become the hallmark of Times Square over the years.
An inside look behind the ABC SuperSign in Times Square
As we’ve previously mentioned, these advertisements are planned to the smallest detail — from the minimum surface area of light on street frontages where signage must face, to the mandatory level of brightness for illuminated displays. As consumers, we generally do not have the opportunity to see the marketing efforts that go into preparing these billboards for mass display.
Rafale Chang, founder of Tiger Party
In this video, television presenter Ben Hedges, who hosts the popular “lao wei” (foreigner) show, takes us on an internal tour of these giant advertisement signs with the help of Rafale Chang, the founder of Tiger Party (the sixth largest ad company operating in Times Square). The clip, which starts at 3:05, provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the back of the ABC SuperSign, where we can see its steel frame up close, in addition to the billboard on top of the Disney Store.
If you’ve ever wonder what it takes to maintain such flashy displays, here’s your insider look.
