Zoom picks up assets of digital screen partner in Canada

November 21, 2008 by Dave Haynes

Zoom Media announced on Thursday it has picked up the assets of its digital screen business partner, Toronto-based Smart One Media.

It means the Montreal-based company is now running its own network of some 700 screens located in restaurants, bars and fitness facilities across Canada.

A press release issued Thursday says Zoom (note – client of my masters) will retain Smart One’s President and CEO Patrick Galante to provide “strategic leadership for current and future digital media projects in Canada.”

“Zoom Media continues to invest in digital signage media with partners that we believe provide a competitive advantage over other OOH digital operators”, says Andy Querin, President & COO – Canada, “We firmly believe that on-going expansion and investment in the digital space will help us respond to increased demands from advertisers for greater flexibility and impact….as well as continue to fuel our revenue growth”.

“I am pleased to see that our assets were acquired by a company that was a pioneer in using our technology and wish to continue to be a leader in the digital revolution” says Patrick Galante, President and CEO of Smart One Media Inc.

The transaction emphasizes Zoom Media’s focus on providing a dominant national digital signage platform to its clients. Zoom currently has 700 digital screens in its Sport and Resto-bar networks.  Zoom will rapidly expand into new markets and increase screen inventory in the four existing markets of VancouverTorontoMontreal and Quebec City. A minimum of 100 digital screens will be installed over the next three to six months. 

Querin says “Smart One has provided Zoom with an excellent start in the Canadian digital industry for two years now; our recent acquisitions have enabled us to now play a leading role in the Digital OOH industry and we are very enthused to continue to build!” 

Zoom has been very aggressive in the United States in the last few months and this announcement suggests the executive has similar plans for Canada, where the company started.

Leave a comment