Frequently Asked Questions

What is outdoor advertising?

Outdoor advertising, also known as Out-of-Home advertising, is an important communication medium for business, government and the not for profit sector. It can exist on road sides, in pedestrian malls, around airports and other transport hubs, on public transport and within retail and other lifestyle environments.

Outdoor advertising is part of the mainstream media industry currently representing about 3.6 per cent of the annual $12 billion advertising market.

What types of formats are part of outdoor advertising?

Outdoor advertisements appear in a variety of places outside of the home. The industry breaks them down into four main categories which are:

  • Large Format
  • Street Furniture
  • Transit
  • Posters

To view sub-categories for each of the above please click here.

Who uses outdoor advertising?

Advertisers are increasingly acknowledging the effectiveness and reach potential of outdoor advertising. Today every category of advertiser is featured on outdoor media compared to a select few ten years ago.

To view the top 10 Advertisers in outdoor media for 2006 click here.

How can I contact an outdoor provider?

Please click here to search for a supplier.

What do people think of outdoor advertising?

For the past 20 years the OMA has kept track of public attitudes towards outdoor advertising.  The majority of people surveyed are generally positive about outdoor advertising in the right locations such as commercial and industrial zones and other mixed business areas.

The OMA recently commissioned AC Nielsen to conduct research on the public's attitude towards outdoor advertising. These results will be posted under research on the website soon.

If I have a complaint to make about an outdoor advertisement who do I contact?

Members of this Association are not advertisers - we are media operators, operating the structures on which advertising is displayed. The members operate under a Code of Ethics and a Community Charter and fully support the Advertiser's Code of Ethics recommended by the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA). They are also committed to support the decisions of the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB), which is an initiative of AANA. That supports includes removing immediately any content found by the ASB to be offensive.

You should complain to:

Advertising Standards Bureau

www.adstandards.com.au