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Orange Barrel Media, IKE Smart City offer free digital advertising during coronavirus pandemic

Image courtesy of IKE Smart City.

March 20, 2020

Orange Barrel Media and sister company IKE Smart City are donating airtime on their out-of-home digital signage platforms to support local businesses and non-profits across the country, according to a press release.

Together, Orange Barrel Media and IKE Smart City operate an independent network of digital signs in the urban cores of 18 U.S. cities.

Beginning on Thursday, March 18, OBM and IKE, in partnership with local stakeholders, began work to assist their communities through the use of digital screens capable of delivering approximately 100 million impressions weekly.

"What would our cities be without the local and independent merchants and restaurants, arts organizations, and non-profits that define the culture of our communities? These organizations not only employ more than 50% of U.S. workers, they enrich our lives and make our cities unique. We must support one another as we navigate the devastating effects of COVID-19," Pete Scantland, CEO of Orange Barrel Media and IKE Smart City, said in the press release. "Our mission is to utilize our media platform to improve lives in cities, and we are committed to leveraging our assets to help those who are suffering during this time." 

Orange Barrel Media developed the #OBMSUPPORTSLOCAL initiative when mandated closures of local businesses began sweeping the nation.

The initiative is designed to help create community awareness of the ways in which merchants and non-profits are trying to remain open for business in the midst of restrictions that force them to close their doors to the public.

OBM expects to be able to accommodate dozens of these organizations in each city and is launching the program in Los Angeles, Washington, Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Charlotte, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, San Antonio, Kansas City and Columbus.

To participate, local and independent businesses, non-profits, and community organizations located in the cities listed above should submit a request to obmsupportslocal@orangebarrelmedia.com. Requests should share a brief description of the business and the ways in which customers can continue to provide support during this time of need.

To read other stories on the coronavirus's impact on kiosks, click here.