Monday, January 08, 2007
Pittsburgh, “Brought to you By…”
Could Pittsburgh be the latest city to use advertisements and selling naming rights to raise revenue? The process has been put into motion with the selection of a firm that will begin an eight month process to identify assets and facilities that could be seen by corporations as money makers. Other cities have done it and it was recommended by the Act 47 coordinator as “market based revenue opportunities”.
The coordinator’s plan identified “general outdoor advertising, street furniture, indoor advertising, and secondary use of public real estate” as possible avenues of revenue generation. It was labeled as a priority and arrangements were to have been in place by January 1, 2005 so that the City could realize revenues of $500,000 that year and would be getting $1 million this year.
No such luck. For whatever reason, the Act 47 plan’s recommendations were once again modified or outright ignored. In true Pittsburgh fashion, the City has already said that “the names of parks and the City-County Building are probably off limits to corporate marketing [and] there won't be billboards all over town.” Another example where the consulted party has already cut off the consultant’s input.
In addition, the city isn't allowed to sell ads on its cable channel, because that would compete with private broadcasters. Why not sell off the cable channel? What if a company offered $1 million to advertise in Frick Park? That’s $1 million that does not have to come through taxes or fees. Too tacky? Unfortunately, Pittsburgh wants to be entrepreneurial, but only on its overly rigid terms.
The coordinator’s plan identified “general outdoor advertising, street furniture, indoor advertising, and secondary use of public real estate” as possible avenues of revenue generation. It was labeled as a priority and arrangements were to have been in place by January 1, 2005 so that the City could realize revenues of $500,000 that year and would be getting $1 million this year.
No such luck. For whatever reason, the Act 47 plan’s recommendations were once again modified or outright ignored. In true Pittsburgh fashion, the City has already said that “the names of parks and the City-County Building are probably off limits to corporate marketing [and] there won't be billboards all over town.” Another example where the consulted party has already cut off the consultant’s input.
In addition, the city isn't allowed to sell ads on its cable channel, because that would compete with private broadcasters. Why not sell off the cable channel? What if a company offered $1 million to advertise in Frick Park? That’s $1 million that does not have to come through taxes or fees. Too tacky? Unfortunately, Pittsburgh wants to be entrepreneurial, but only on its overly rigid terms.
