Canton of Zurich triples revenue through public tendering process

The approximately 650 cantonal poster panels along cantonal roads were previously managed and marketed by six different companies. This spring, the cantonal civil engineering office held its first public tender for these concessions, which was won by Allgemeine Plakatgesellschaft (APG|SGA) and Clear Channel. Thanks to the tender, the revenue invested in the traffic infrastructure will triple from 2021.

The invitation to tender was recently completed. Of the total of seven lots put out to tender, three went to APG|SGA and four to Clear Channel. Thus, APG|SGA will market the poster panels in the Glattal, Greifensee/Pfäffikersee, and right bank of Lake Zurich regions from 2021. Clear Channel secured the marketing rights for the regions on the left bank of Lake Zurich, Knonaueramt, Limmattal, Unterland, Weinland, and Tösstal. The cities of Zurich and Winterthur are awarding their own licenses with corresponding conditions. Thanks to the tender, the canton of Zurich will earn around 1.55 million Swiss francs per year from 2021 for the benefit of road infrastructure.

With its decision of October 18, 2018, the Government Council amended the Special Use Ordinance of the Canton of Zurich. The amendment of this ordinance was decisive for the public tender of the concessions for the period from 2021 to 2025.

For the invitation to tender, which took place in the spring of 2019, the approximately 650 poster sites were divided into seven lots, which significantly simplifies the handling of the sites that were previously awarded individually. With the concession, the marketer acquires the right to lease its advertising sites to end customers (companies, political parties, organizers of cultural and other public events, etc.). In return, he has to pay a fee to the canton.

Image: Clear Channel Switzerland