October 3, 2025 Buying Billboard Advertising
Advertising on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square commands global attention, with one-day displays starting around $17,500 and seasonal peaks far higher. This guide reveals how location, duration, frequency, creative complexity, and seasonal demand shape your investment, and it previews typical package options, the value proposition for brands, booking procedures, available billboard formats, ROI-boosting strategies, and budget-friendly alternatives. Whether you aim to amplify brand awareness on the iconic Nasdaq Tower or explore smaller digital screens and static placements, understanding these cost drivers and opportunities ensures your campaign delivers maximum impact.
The cost of Times Square billboard advertising depends on multiple interrelated factors that determine your total spend and campaign effectiveness. Premium visibility at high-foot-traffic intersections raises base rates, while longer runs, greater share of voice, advanced formats, and peak-season demand further adjust pricing. For example, a four-week digital campaign at prime New Year’s Eve timing can cost three to four times the standard monthly rate.
Factors Influencing Times Square Billboard Costs
The cost of advertising in Times Square is determined by several factors, including the size and location of the billboard, the duration of the campaign, and the time of year. Digital billboards, which offer more flexibility and visibility, tend to be more expensive than traditional static billboards.
American Guerilla Marketing, The Cost of Advertising in Times Square: A Comprehensive Guide, (2023)
| Factor | Influence Mechanism | Impact on Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Location & Visibility | Higher impressions in central squares | +30–50% over secondary sites |
| Campaign Duration | Discounts for extended runs | −5–20% for weekly/monthly buys |
| Ad Frequency & SOV | More plays per hour increase exposure | +10–40% for peak SOV allocation |
| Creative Complexity | 3D, interactive or full-motion video production | +25–70% over static imaging |
| Seasonal Demand | Holidays, events drive higher traffic and bids | +50–200% during peak seasons |
Location on the Nasdaq Tower or adjacent digital spectaculars commands the highest rates because they deliver millions of daily impressions to tourists, commuters, and financial professionals. Full-motion LED screens on the MarketSite corner offer unobstructed views from multiple angles, amplifying brand recall and justifying premium pricing. The closer a billboard is to pedestrian hotspots and street-level sightlines, the greater the cost per day and the more competitive the booking process becomes.
Campaign duration directly affects affordability through volume-based discounts and rate tiers. Short-term runs, such as one-day bursts, typically start at $17,500 for Nasdaq Tower, while week-long placements may receive a 10–15 percent discount. Month-long engagements can reduce the daily equivalent rate by up to 20 percent as providers spread production and operational costs across more days.
| Duration | Typical Discount | Effective Daily Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Day | 0% | $17,500+ |
| 1 Week | 10–15% | $15,000–$16,000 |
| 1 Month | 15–20% | $14,000–$15,000 |
Longer commitments help stabilize schedules and secure priority rotations, smoothing out rate volatility.
Higher ad frequency ensures a larger share of voice by increasing the number of plays per hour or minute. Allocating 50 percent share of voice versus a standard 20 percent can boost visibility by 2.5× and drive up the hourly rate by roughly 25–40 percent. Advertisers seeking continuous exposure opt for fuller rotation packages, while those targeting specific time slots may negotiate lower-priced off-peak SOV allocations.
Adding video, animation, interactive elements, or 3D effects elevates production requirements and technical integration, which in turn raises display costs. Static imagery on a digital LED costs less than full-motion video content, and 3D or depth-simulated ads can cost 30–70 percent more due to specialized rendering and extended display time. Advanced creative formats deliver stronger engagement, justifying the higher rate through improved recall and social shares.
Seasonal events—such as New Year’s Eve, Times Square celebrations, holiday shopping peaks, and major sporting events—drive foot traffic and digital demand, pushing up billboard rates by 50–200 percent. Advertisers targeting these windows must plan well in advance and budget for premium pricing, while off-peak periods like late January or February may offer more favorable rates and flexible scheduling.
| Package Type | Duration | Starting Cost | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Day Burst | 1 Day | $17,500 | Creative services, play rotations, report |
| Weekly Showcase | 7 Days | $100,000 | Custom animations, PR distribution |
| Monthly Spotlight | 30 Days | $350,000 | Video content, social media amplification |
| Quarterly Campaign | 90 Days | $900,000 | Full creative suite, extended analytics |
A one-day Nasdaq Tower campaign starts at $17,500
Nasdaq Tower Advertising Packages
Advertising on the Nasdaq Tower offers powerful global exposure in one of the most iconic advertising locations in the world. A 1-day campaign on the Nasdaq Tower can start from $17,500.
PR to SKY, Nasdaq Tower Advertising, (2024)
and typically includes full-motion LED display, basic creative adaptation, scheduled rotations across peak daylight and evening hours, and a summary performance report. Additional services—such as bespoke animations or press distribution—can be added for an extra fee.
Extending a campaign to a week or month reduces the effective daily cost through volume discounts of 10–20 percent. Weekly runs often bundle limited creative revisions, while monthly engagements include tiered analytics and social media promotion credits. Multi-month contracts may offer further savings or guaranteed SOV levels.
| Billboard | Location Tier | 1-Day Starting Cost | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasdaq Tower | Corner of 43rd | $17,500 | Full-motion LED, financial branding |
| One Times Square | Broadway & 7th | $20,000 | Iconic New Year’s Ball backdrop |
| MiFi Digital Spectacular | 42nd Street | $15,000 | Wide panoramic display |
Advertising on Times Square billboards delivers unparalleled global exposure, brand prestige, social amplification, and precise audience targeting. The combination of massive foot traffic, iconic status, and dynamic digital formats makes it a high-impact medium that justifies premium investment.
Nasdaq Tower displays reach over 330,000 daily visitors and tens of millions of digital viewers worldwide through live-streamed feeds. This extensive reach accelerates familiarity, drives social shares, and positions brands at the heart of global financial markets.
Securing space on the Nasdaq Tower signals corporate strength and innovation, elevating a brand’s image through association with an established marketplace landmark. The prestige factor can enhance investor perception, media coverage, and consumer trust.
Times Square’s status as the top-Instagrammed location globally—250,000 daily posts—creates viral potential when audiences capture and share billboard moments. Integrating campaign hashtags and QR codes further drives digital engagement and extends reach beyond the physical square.
Times Square audiences include 50 percent local commuters, 33 percent domestic tourists, and 17 percent international visitors, alongside financial professionals monitoring the Nasdaq MarketSite.
Times Square Audience Demographics
Times Square attracts a diverse audience, including 50% New Yorkers, 33% domestic tourists, and 17% international visitors. The area is a major tourist hub.
Outfront Media, Times Square Advertising, (n.d.)
This diverse mix ensures multi-segment visibility for consumer brands, enterprise solutions, and IPO announcements alike.
Partner with agencies that demonstrate deep relationships with Times Square venues, transparent pricing models, robust negotiation capabilities, and in-house creative production to streamline campaign delivery and optimize value.
Billboards require high-resolution files (minimum 1920×1080 pixels for video), H.264 MP4 format, specified color profiles (sRGB), and clear aspect ratios. Static images, animations, and interactive elements must conform to platform timing, file size limits, and safety regulations for crowd engagement.
A minimum lead time of 4–6 weeks is recommended for prime locations and seasonal bookings.
Digital billboards provide dynamic messaging, video playback, and real-time updates, whereas static billboards offer lower production costs but fixed imagery. Digital formats yield higher engagement and flexibility at a 20–40 percent premium over static placements.
| Format | Creative Flexibility | Average Cost Premium | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital LED | Full-motion video/audio | +30–40% | Hourly to real-time updates |
| Static Print | Single image | Base rate | Per production cycle |
Advertisers leverage 3D-rendered content and augmented-reality triggers to create immersive brand experiences—drawing attention through depth illusions, user-activated interactions, and live polling overlays that transform passive viewership into active engagement.
Mobile options include pedicab trailers, branded ride-share vehicles, and digital truck wraps that navigate high-traffic corridors. These mobile screens offer flexible reach at lower daily rates, starting as low as $300 for a pedicab route, and extend brand presence beyond fixed installations.
Clarity and simplicity drive recall in busy environments.
Link out-of-home campaigns with press releases, influencer partnerships, social promotions, and retargeting ads to extend message reach. Coordinated launches across earned, owned, and paid channels create unified brand narratives that reinforce audience engagement.
| Screen Size | Location Tier | Duration | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Kiosk | Mid-block | 1 Day | $1,200–$2,500 |
| Pedicab Trailer | Street-level | 1 Week | $2,100–$3,500 |
| Nasdaq Tower | Prime Corner | 1 Day | $17,500+ |
| Static Wallscape | Upper Broadway | 1 Month | $50,000–$100,000 |
The premium required for Times Square placements converts directly into unmatched reach, brand prestige, and social amplification. Brands that align creative messaging with strategic timing and integrated marketing channels unlock significant returns and lasting impressions.
Advertising on the Nasdaq Tower and digital billboards in Times Square transforms regional campaigns into global conversations. By aligning cost factors, package options, and creative strategies with clear performance metrics, brands can secure high-visibility spots, maximize impact, and measure success against precise KPIs.
Ultimately, a well-executed Times Square campaign elevates brand awareness, drives engagement, and cements market credibility on the world’s most iconic stage.
From Nasdaq Tower to the side streets of NYC, we make your message impossible to miss. Reach out: Justin@AmericanGuerillaMarketing.com