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PrintTransLink jacks up ad spending in Canwest papers
TransLink may have fallen on hard times financially, but that hasn’t stopped it from pumping huge sums of money into large publishing companies this year.
Canwest Global Communications Corp. newspapers received $527,913.68 in advertising revenue from the regional transportation authority in the first eight months of this year, according to data supplied in response to a Georgia Straight freedom-of-information request. That’s more than double last year’s figure of $236,764.89, and four times TransLink’s purchase of $131,516.77 in advertising in Canwest newspapers in 2007. Approximately 52 percent of the ad spending with Canwest this year went to its daily papers, with the rest going to the company’s community papers. The Vancouver Courier was the largest recipient among the Canwest community papers, collecting $78,685.90.
Meanwhile, Black Press, which is owned by Victoria publisher David Black, generated more advertising revenue from TransLink in the first eight months of 2009—$255,186.39—than it did in all of 2006, 2007, and 2008 combined ($209,985.31). More than $200,000 of TransLink’s expenditures this year went to Black Press community papers that serve the outer suburbs of Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Pitt Meadows. The largest recipient in the Black Press chain was the Surrey–North Delta Leader, which collected $80,452.81.
The commuter paper Metro generated the highest billings among free daily newspapers this year, collecting $45,789.38 from January 1 to August 31. Its rival, 24 hours, was far behind, with $2,720 in advertising revenue from TransLink. The regional transportation authority didn’t place any advertisements in the Georgia Straight, Xtra! West, or the Globe and Mail in the first eight months of 2009.
TransLink spent $920,790.31 on print advertising in the first eight months of 2009. Of that, 57 percent went to Canwest-owned newspapers; 28 percent went to Black Press; and 10 percent went to ethnic papers.
Earlier this year, the Straight reported that the City of Vancouver spent 78 percent of its print advertising dollars in Canwest papers between January 1 and July 23, 2009.
Comments
Funny thing, I thought TransLink was broke? Guess not - sure fooled those rubes who voted to fund more money for TransLink!
The GS doesn't benefit from TransLink's advertising because it prints honest commentaries and advertisements such as the "GM Creeps and Weirdos" advertisement which ruffled some feathers at TransLink a few years ago:
http://www.southphillyreview.com/view_article.php?id=284
The Vancouver Sun or Canwest is in financial trouble and under pressure to keep big money rollers like TransLink happy. It prints whatever TransLink wants in the best possible light. We are very fortunate to have an independent newspaper like the Georgia Straight in Vancouver. GS allows people to express their views about transit and TransLink. I’m glad that the Georgia Straight hasn’t been compromised by TransLink and isn’t receiving any money from TransLink.
The mainstream media has never vetted SkyTrain or the RAV/Canada Line and deliberately censor negative stories. As such, the public has Translink's spin only and no credible reporting on rapid transit.
If TransLink were to claim that the UBC subway were to cost a $1.00, the mainstream media would print it and stick with the story no matter what.
The mainstream media is corrupt and only prints news that it is paid to print.
I currently live close to work in Vancouver and don’t drive to work even though I own a 30 mpg car. I drive maybe 2,000 km every year in my car. My carbon footprint is arguably much less than it was when I moved here to take transit and my life is much more LIVABLE and SUSTAINABLE without transit.
When I have a date with my wife, we don’t have our schedule dictated by the bus schedule or destination restricted by the bus route. If we want to spend the weekend in Seattle, we do without many of the complications associated with catching a flight, train, taxi or bus.
Transit is fine when you are a student or senior and don’t have a choice. Most people already know the benefits and shortcomings of transit. Advertising by TransLink serves no useful purpose especially if TransLink uses it to brainwash individuals with false statements of the virtues, livability and sustainability of transit.
Sounding the bugle in the charge to give TransLink this $1.3 billion was our very own Vancouver Mayor who a few months ago was going to court against TransLink for fare evasion. Incredible? No, not really, just really really sad, because most people in the Lower Mainland are too apathetic or dense to notice or care that they’ve been swindled by the smartest men in the room. Meanwhile, the ones pulling in their huge paychecks at TransLink are laughing all the way to the bank and are planning their next big assault to make the Lower Mainland even more livable and sustainable: the Evergreen Line as the developers line up for a piece of the pie.
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