Clear Channel Outdoor Announces Transformative Transit Advertising Partnership With CapMetro

Clear Channel Outdoor, a leading outdoor advertising company, has entered into a major multi-year exclusive agreement with Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) to modernize and expand transit advertising throughout Austin, Texas. This strategic initiative is designed to revolutionize how brands connect with residents, commuters and visitors in one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.

Background of the Partnership

Under the new agreement, Clear Channel Outdoor (often referred to as CCO) will take over the oversight and growth of advertising sales across more than 400 buses operating on 71 routes, as well as 10 rail station locations that together serve an average of over two million transit riders each month. This network will provide advertisers with expansive access to a diverse and highly mobile audience.

The contract is set to launch in 2026, and CCO has already outlined a comprehensive planning and installation program whose purpose is to ensure a smooth transition and timely rollout of these modernized advertising solutions.

What Makes This Deal Significant?

This partnership represents a major development in how out-of-home (OOH) and transit advertising operates in the Austin area. By modernizing the transit media network, CCO aims to provide high-impact, creative advertising opportunities that resonate with both local and national brands. This includes:

• Enhanced creative capabilities to support dynamic, attention-grabbing campaigns.
• A robust transition and installation plan to ensure a seamless launch of updated advertising assets in 2026.

Reimagining Transit Advertising

Central to this initiative is CCO’s commitment to redesigning CapMetro’s existing transit advertising program into a modern, flexible and visually impactful media network tailored to the needs of contemporary advertisers. Through this reimagined infrastructure, brands will be able to engage with audiences at pivotal moments throughout their daily routines — whether commuting to work, exploring the city, or attending major regional events.

Expanding Brand Reach Across Austin

Clear Channel Outdoor’s presence in Austin is not new. The company already operates a significant media program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), offering large-format advertising solutions to reach travelers from around the world. The CapMetro partnership builds on this footprint by enabling brands to connect with consumers from the moment they arrive in Austin through their everyday city travels.

By managing advertising on buses and rail stations from downtown cores to residential neighborhoods, CCO is poised to amplify market-wide visibility — reaching approximately 2.3 million residents and 30 million annual visitors. This readership includes professionals on the go, urban dwellers, students and other transit users who represent valuable audiences for advertisers seeking real-world engagement.

Strategic Timing: SXSW and Market Growth

Austin’s vibrant cultural landscape makes this partnership especially timely. The rollout of the modernized transit advertising network is planned to coincide with the 40th anniversary of South by Southwest (SXSW) in March 2026, a major event that attracts thousands of visitors, creative professionals and industry leaders from around the globe. This alignment presents an ideal opportunity for advertisers to showcase their messages during a period of heightened city activity.

With Austin continuing its rapid growth powered by technology, tourism and creative industries, transit advertising offers a way for brands to stand out in real-world environments at a time when many consumers are experiencing “digital fatigue” from online ads. Out-of-home advertising has been shown to perform well in capturing attention and driving impact, making this partnership both timely and strategic for marketers navigating a fragmented media landscape.

Voices From Leadership

Michelle Costa, Regional President at Clear Channel Outdoor, emphasized that the partnership with CapMetro will help brands connect more deeply with Austin’s diverse community. She described the city as an expanding “cultural and economic hub” and highlighted the value that modern, engaging transit advertising solutions bring to brands looking to drive measurable campaign results.

Ruben Batista, President of Clear Channel Outdoor – San Antonio and Austin, echoed this sentiment, pointing out that by reimagining the transit media network, advertisers can enhance engagement with Austin’s influential and on-the-go consumers across critical touchpoints in the city.

Advertising in the Real World: Why It Matters

Out-of-home transit advertising offers a unique advantage over many digital channels because it meets audiences in their everyday routines. People see these ads as they walk to bus stops, ride buses, wait at rail stations, or navigate city streets. Because of this, OOH media can create high memorability and context-rich exposure that drives brand recall and foot traffic more effectively in many cases than some digital formats.

As advertisers seek ways to cut through crowded digital channels and reach consumers in meaningful, real-world environments, comprehensive transit advertising networks like the one CCO is building with CapMetro offer a powerful solution for scalable brand visibility.

Looking Forward

As this partnership progresses towards its 2026 launch, brands and marketers can expect a range of new, creative opportunities to amplify their message across Austin’s dynamic transit system. The collaboration between CapMetro and Clear Channel Outdoor exemplifies how forward-looking media solutions can help advertisers engage with audiences across key moments and city corridors.

Conclusion

The modernized transit advertising program emerging from this partnership marks a significant advancement for both Clear Channel Outdoor and CapMetro. It not only expands brand reach across a major urban market but also reflects a broader trend of enhancing real-world advertising experiences in an age of digital saturation. With strategic timing around key cultural events and an expansive audience reach, this initiative is poised to reshape how advertisers connect with consumers across Austin’s transit landscape.

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