Say hello to the Digital City.

We are thrilled to launch the first Digital Column network of 30 faces in Canada on the streets of Montreal.

There’s no doubt about it, street advertising has a major effect on a modern city’s environment. London, Paris and New York all owe a part of their energy to the buzz created by out-of-home advertising.

Astral has long been a part of Montreal’s urban landscape. Over the years we have worked closely with advertisers to display great creative, stunning images and innovative campaigns on its busy downtown streets.

The new Digital Column network offers advertisers the opportunity to engage with consumers using the latest LCD technology. From smartphones to tablets, consumers are constantly seeking information on-the-go. This new digital enhancement to the street columns enables dynamic storytelling in the downtown core, creating the opportunity for real-time exchanges between advertiser and consumer.

Digital Columns give advertisers the opportunity to interact with consumers in real-time, day or night, on the streets of Montreal.

Digital Columns feature a high-definition screen with the latest LCD technology. These screens are extremely bright, very visible and perfect for making images stand out in an urban environment.

Astral’s 24/7 coverage is monitored from a high-tech control centre. There are only six advertisers in the rotation. These advertisers are part of a 48 second loop, running for a continuous four-week period.

Concentrated in an area bordered by Atwater, René-Lévesque, Sherbrooke and St-Denis, including Quartier Des Spectacles, this new network complements street media advertising by addressing a precise target group: the early-adopter, tech-savvy downtowner in very busy and trendy Montreal sectors.

The 30 digital faces offer a whole new communication experience to advertisers and consumers with a product built for the urban landscape, providing nearly 1 million valuable impressions daily.

Digital Columns will profoundly expand the possibilities of street level media. The visual impact of the Street Column, combined with the engaging qualities of digital, offer unlimited marketing and creative potential for any brand.

Astral’s new Digital Columns are an extremely versatile and effective new product. From traditional to interactive campaigns, Digital Columns accommodate varied messaging throughout the day and across the network. They create opportunities for instant connections and real-time interactions through Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile technology.

With smartphone penetration on the rise, Quebec consumers seek information where and when they want it. The additional feature of NFC enables advertisers to extend the experience with consumers through mobile interactivity. With NFC chip technology now available on all of the new Digital Columns, consumers can simply tap their smartphones to instantly connect with advertisers and experience brands in a truly dynamic way.

The possibilities are endless for advertisers looking to reach digitally-savvy consumers in a world-class city like Montreal.