Ocean Group acquires MediaCo Outdoor

Ocean Group has announced the acquisition of Manchester out-of-home company MediaCo Outdoor, as it looks to strengthen its national footprint.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, follows a landmark agreement signed earlier this month with Network Rail which will see Ocean Group provide the three Media Eyes to occupy the main entrances to the new Birmingham New Street Station when it opens in September.

Commenting on the move, Tim Bleakley, Ocean Group CEO, said: “MediaCo Outdoor and Manchester City Council have worked collaboratively and tirelessly together to build a truly state of the art portfolio across the city, to the mutual benefit of taxpayers and the business community alike.

“The entire Ocean Group team is committed to furthering this great work and using our unique offering across the UK’s top three cities to drive growth in the medium and offer advertisers a compelling network.”

The move hopes to accelerate the group’s development of digital and premium formats, and mirrors its acquisition of Signature Outdoor in Birmingham last year.

Richard Blackburn, commercial director of MediaCo Outdoor, said: “We have built up some unique products and innovative trading models and I’m delighted we are passing on the baton to the Ocean Group, who share our ethos and, we believe, are an ambitious partner who will take the business to the next stage.”