My question is, regardless of the livery, why put it on 504, which shurely would have been better RedFlash-ed like the others, and put the advert on 485 or 486 for example. Having said that, did I hear the 480-487 were resprayed away from Milehouse, so it is easier for CityBus to apply the artwork in house. Anyway, do we know when 501 and 502 are getting their stickers? and what is next into the spray shop?
If I was in charge at Heart I'd ask for my money back. People aren't going to notice this on the streets of Plymouth. Is this the best Citybus could do?
It would be nothing to do with Citybus - Heart FM pay for the design they want - and supply the artwork for Citybus to stick on. As long as Citybus have produced it to the design that Heart FM wanted which I am sure they would have then no one will be asking for any money back. Having seen the bus it does stick out nicely and people will notice the advert.
There are other Heart FM advertising buses elsewhere in the country, normally the front is in the operator's own livery. Obviously that doesn't quite work the same way on a Plymouth Citybus vehicle, perhaps they should have approached Stagecoach! PJ02PYD: https://www.flickr.com/photos/car69/19669733294/in/photolist YN07LHZ: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/21472444460/in/photolist If the links don't work, just search on the registrations.
Thanks anon 09:51. Its good to see the others. It also highlights Citybus' policy of keeping the windows generally clear as the Blackpool one is hideous. Of course in this case the fact that the front remains in the operators own livery - all red for Citybus actually helps. would look worse if it had a stagecoach front end
If you pay for advertising you want it to stand out. A red bus in a fleet of red buses doesn't stand out as much as another colour. How well do the yellow flashes stand out? I'm sure Heart would rather their artwork go on a different colour bus than standard red. I'm sure Citybus could have done something better in the past but they don't care these days
if Heart had wanted a different colour then they would have got a different colour. As everyone keeps saying - the design is all down to Heart FM. This is a commercial contract with Citybus to provide a bus in the advertising wrap of their chosen design. The impact of the design or otherwise is purely down to Heart FM. As others have posted, there are several others in UK all of them in red, as that is the brands colour. Red with white writing. A search on flickr will show several others across the country. Wilts & Dorset have one, Cardiff City has a single decker. Heart FM have quite a fleet of cars around the UK - all in red with white writing. The only part in all of this that Citybus have a say in, is whether to take their money! And finally, the bus actually does stand out from all the others. If you se eit on Royal Parade you do notice it. Much more so than a red flash
I'd agree with your first couple of comments for sure but not the latter about the different colour bus (and definitely not the final unnecessary dig). As has already been said, the design has got nothing to do with Citybus - they've been paid to do a job and they've done what they've been asked to do (albeit possibly with some negotiation on not covering the windows to fit in with PCB policy).
The point is that Heart FM's brand is red. That's their colour, it always has been. It might seem a strange concept for something you can't see such as a radio station but all their advertising is red based, in the same way that all Absolute Radio's advertising is purple-based. They have a brand image to promote the same as anyone else and if they didn't use their red and white imaging, it would be confusing as it wouldn't be giving out a consistent messge, so that's not going to happen. If they want an advertising bus in Plymouth then it isn't going to stand out as much as say the Blackpool one. They will no doubt have accepted this as the only other option is not to run the campaign in Plymouth. Putting the advert on a Stagecoach bus would make no difference, it would still be a red bus surrounded in a sea of red Citybus buses.
The question is, does it have a radio fitted? I don't know about previous Plymouth Sound overall advert buses but I'm sure I remember the DevonAir Radio advert VR that Devon General had a radio and speakers playing the station's output and certainly Capital Radio did that in London back in the 90s.
Radios are fitted in all the E400's but are covered over so that they can't be used as a licence is required to broadcast any music. The Plymouth Sound bus did have a radio on it and was broadcasting their station. I can remember quite clearly one evening going home from work when the news came on saying a snowstorm was on its way and that evening we had 6 inches of snow. These days some people just want to sit in peace and quiet on the bus and those who want music listen with their headphones on.
Does the Radio Plymouth bus still exist? I haven't seen it for a while. I think the Heart bus looks good, but they have the unfair advantage of having a massive advertising budget to spend on stuff like that.
401 is to be withdrawn like the rest of the two door buses but when this will happen, im not sure yet. all i can say is keep on getting your pics before they go!
401 does sound pretty rough going, have seen it a few times at the railway station whilst waiting for the 10, think it's in need of withdrawal really, will be a shame when it's gone though as its one of few in that batch that has promo advertising
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Am I the only one that thinks this looks bland...
ReplyDeleteYou certainly are
DeleteNo your not the only one it is bland. Heart supplied the artwork to PCB. I think heart may need a new marketing manager.
Delete'Am I the only one that thinks this looks bland...'
ReplyDeleteMatches both of the DJ's personality's and also the playlist then!
Guess the advertising revenue is more important than the companies image. They have had far worse though.
ReplyDeleteMy question is, regardless of the livery, why put it on 504, which shurely would have been better RedFlash-ed like the others, and put the advert on 485 or 486 for example. Having said that, did I hear the 480-487 were resprayed away from Milehouse, so it is easier for CityBus to apply the artwork in house.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, do we know when 501 and 502 are getting their stickers? and what is next into the spray shop?
If I was in charge at Heart I'd ask for my money back. People aren't going to notice this on the streets of Plymouth. Is this the best Citybus could do?
ReplyDeleteIt would be nothing to do with Citybus - Heart FM pay for the design they want - and supply the artwork for Citybus to stick on. As long as Citybus have produced it to the design that Heart FM wanted which I am sure they would have then no one will be asking for any money back. Having seen the bus it does stick out nicely and people will notice the advert.
DeleteThere are other Heart FM advertising buses elsewhere in the country, normally the front is in the operator's own livery. Obviously that doesn't quite work the same way on a Plymouth Citybus vehicle, perhaps they should have approached Stagecoach!
DeletePJ02PYD: https://www.flickr.com/photos/car69/19669733294/in/photolist
YN07LHZ: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/21472444460/in/photolist
If the links don't work, just search on the registrations.
Thanks anon 09:51. Its good to see the others. It also highlights Citybus' policy of keeping the windows generally clear as the Blackpool one is hideous. Of course in this case the fact that the front remains in the operators own livery - all red for Citybus actually helps. would look worse if it had a stagecoach front end
DeleteIf you pay for advertising you want it to stand out. A red bus in a fleet of red buses doesn't stand out as much as another colour. How well do the yellow flashes stand out? I'm sure Heart would rather their artwork go on a different colour bus than standard red. I'm sure Citybus could have done something better in the past but they don't care these days
ReplyDeleteif Heart had wanted a different colour then they would have got a different colour. As everyone keeps saying - the design is all down to Heart FM. This is a commercial contract with Citybus to provide a bus in the advertising wrap of their chosen design. The impact of the design or otherwise is purely down to Heart FM. As others have posted, there are several others in UK all of them in red, as that is the brands colour. Red with white writing. A search on flickr will show several others across the country. Wilts & Dorset have one, Cardiff City has a single decker. Heart FM have quite a fleet of cars around the UK - all in red with white writing. The only part in all of this that Citybus have a say in, is whether to take their money! And finally, the bus actually does stand out from all the others. If you se eit on Royal Parade you do notice it. Much more so than a red flash
DeleteI'd agree with your first couple of comments for sure but not the latter about the different colour bus (and definitely not the final unnecessary dig). As has already been said, the design has got nothing to do with Citybus - they've been paid to do a job and they've done what they've been asked to do (albeit possibly with some negotiation on not covering the windows to fit in with PCB policy).
DeleteThe point is that Heart FM's brand is red. That's their colour, it always has been. It might seem a strange concept for something you can't see such as a radio station but all their advertising is red based, in the same way that all Absolute Radio's advertising is purple-based. They have a brand image to promote the same as anyone else and if they didn't use their red and white imaging, it would be confusing as it wouldn't be giving out a consistent messge, so that's not going to happen. If they want an advertising bus in Plymouth then it isn't going to stand out as much as say the Blackpool one. They will no doubt have accepted this as the only other option is not to run the campaign in Plymouth. Putting the advert on a Stagecoach bus would make no difference, it would still be a red bus surrounded in a sea of red Citybus buses.
The question is, does it have a radio fitted? I don't know about previous Plymouth Sound overall advert buses but I'm sure I remember the DevonAir Radio advert VR that Devon General had a radio and speakers playing the station's output and certainly Capital Radio did that in London back in the 90s.
ReplyDeleteRadios are fitted in all the E400's but are covered over so that they can't be used as a licence is required to broadcast any music. The Plymouth Sound bus did have a radio on it and was broadcasting their station. I can remember quite clearly one evening going home from work when the news came on saying a snowstorm was on its way and that evening we had 6 inches of snow. These days some people just want to sit in peace and quiet on the bus and those who want music listen with their headphones on.
DeleteDoes the Radio Plymouth bus still exist? I haven't seen it for a while. I think the Heart bus looks good, but they have the unfair advantage of having a massive advertising budget to spend on stuff like that.
ReplyDeleteSteve.
It certainly did in July! Cant say I have seen it on the road for a while though
DeleteYes it does, 401 is still in service.........unfortunately!! ;)
Delete401 is to be withdrawn like the rest of the two door buses but when this will happen, im not sure yet. all i can say is keep on getting your pics before they go!
Delete401 is single door and advert liveried, so there's very little chance of it being withdrawn.
DeleteAnon 20 Oct @ 08:42
Delete401, like others in this batch, is NOT a two door bus.
401 does sound pretty rough going, have seen it a few times at the railway station whilst waiting for the 10, think it's in need of withdrawal really, will be a shame when it's gone though as its one of few in that batch that has promo advertising
Delete401 always has and always will be rubbish! It's well known for being an awful bus lol
Delete401 quite often - although not always - turns up on the 32s
ReplyDeleteAnyone know what's in the spray app now 504 is out? Or what is in next.
ReplyDelete