As digital outdoor advertising has proliferated on public transport, sports stadiums, shopping centres, service stations, airports, retailers and elsewhere new data from Roy Morgan shows a majority of 10.8 million Australians aged 14-plus (52 per cent) are now seeing digital outdoor advertising in an average week.

This represents a significant increase of 10 percentage points from four years ago when only 42 per cent reported seeing digital outdoor advertising.

However, traditional outdoor advertising does remains more prevalent. Now 15.6 million Australians aged 14-plus (76 per cent) seeing traditional outdoor advertising such as billboards or posters in an average week. Overall now 78 per cent of Australians see outdoor advertising of some type – including digital, billboard or posters – in an average week, an increase of four per cent points on six years ago in 2013.

These are the latest findings from Roy Morgan’s Single Source Survey which is based on in-depth personal interviews conducted face-to-face with over 50,000 Australians per annum in their own homes.

Clearly it is the rise of digital outdoor advertising over the last few years that is supporting and growing the outdoor advertising market. Analysing the rise of digital outdoor advertising on a regional level shows city dwellers (59 per cent) and far more likely than country folk (40 per cent) to see digital outdoor advertising in an average week while the States with the highest penetration are led by Victoria and Queensland (both 54 per cent).

Outdoor advertising trends for traditional billboards & posters and digital screens

Gen Z and Millennials more likely to see many types of outdoor advertising than average Aussies

Taking a look at different types of outdoor advertising including at airports, train stations, on the sides of buses/trams/trains, at petrol/service stations, shopping centres, in gyms/health clubs, sports stadiums and news-stands shows that younger generations are more likely to see many of these types of advertising than average (and older) Australians.

Over half of Australians (53 per cent) see advertising at shopping centres in an average week however this is exceeded by those in both Gen Z (55 per cent) and Millennials (57 per cent).

Outdoor advertising is also frequently seen at petrol/service stations with 35 per cent of Australians seeing this advertising in an average week, however far more Millennials (41 per cent) than Gen Z (31 per cent) see this type of outdoor advertising.

The situation is reversed when it comes to public transport.

Younger Australians in Gen Z (32 per cent) are far more likely to see outdoor advertising at train stations in an average week than either Millennials or the average Australian (both 21 per cent).

This trend holds true for seeing advertising on the sides of buses/trams/trains seen by 32 per cent of those in Gen Z in an average week compared to 27 per cent of Millennials and 24 per cent of Australians in general.

In addition to these popular types of widespread advertising those in Gen Z are more likely than either Millennials or the average Australian to see outdoor advertising at airports, gyms/health clubs, sport stadiums and even as news-stands.

Likelihood of seeing outdoor advertising for Australia’s Millennials & Gen Zs

Commenting on the findings, Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine said: “The growth in digital outdoor advertising over the last few years has been impressive, and relentless. A clear majority of 52 per cent of Australians now see digital outdoor advertising in an average week – up a significant 10 per cent points in only four years.

“Victoria and Queensland are the two States leading the way – digital outdoor advertising is seen by 54 per cent in an average week in these States. While 59 per cent of those living in Australia’s capital cities see this form of advertising at least weekly – well ahead of the 40 per cent in country areas.

“Delving more deeply into the data is revealing. Generation Z (born 1991-2005) and ranging from teenagers to those in their late 20s, are the most likely of any generation to see outdoor advertising on the sides of buses/trams/trains, at train stations, gyms/health clubs and at sports stadia.

“Other generations can be more precisely targeted with particular kinds of outdoor advertising. The older Millennials (born 1976-1990) are the most likely to see outdoor advertising at petrol/service stations and at shopping centres while Generation X (born 1961-1975) are the most likely to see outdoor advertising at airports. Perhaps unsurprisingly Baby Boomers (born 1946-1960) are the most likely generation to see outdoor advertising at news-stands.

“These results show that the ability to reach the desired audience with sophisticated digital outdoor advertising campaigns can be very dependent upon exactly where the digital advertising is deployed.