Bengaluru large format OOH business hits an air pocket

BBMP told to revise the draft ‘Outdoor Signage and Public Messaging bylaws 2018’; no relief to large format media operators in the city

The OOH business in the city of Bengaluru is in a quandary with no clear signs of when the large formats will be permitted for advertising. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been directed by the Karnataka High Court to re-formulate the ‘Outdoor Signage and Public Messaging bylaws 2018’ and until the new ad bylaws are finally approved by the state government, the status quo will continue.

Manmohan Singh, Head of the Bangalore Outdoor Media Owners Association, told Media4Growth that the industry did not get the opportunity to present its collective views in the court as the case hadn’t come up for hearing in the past many days. The holidays and election period caused the delay.

Now that the status quo will continue for some time to come, media owners in the city are exploring opportunities in other markets where they would not encounter such situations.