You may notice this the next time you're at a McDonald's drive-thru
McDonald's is piloting a new advertising business called the McDonald's Media Network by displaying digital ads on drive-thru menu screens. The pilot program is currently active at 450 U.S. locations and utilizes loyalty data to target advertisements to customers. The company announced the initiative during its Investor Day presentation on September 23. While the company aims to build a media business targeting $1 billion in revenue, early customer feedback has been negative, with some users comparing the experience to watching a YouTube video.
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- ✓ McDonald's is testing digital ads on drive-thru menus at 450 U.S. locations.
- ✓ The company announced the creation of the McDonald's Media Network during its September 23 Investor Day presentation.
- ✓ The advertising pilot uses loyalty data for targeting.
What changed
McDonald's launched the McDonald's Media Network to monetize drive-thru screens via third-party ads.
Live updates
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McDonald's Tests Third-Party Ads on Drive-Thru Menus
McDonald's is piloting a new advertising business called the McDonald's Media Network by displaying digital ads on drive-thru menu screens. The pilot program is currently active at 450 U.S. locations and utilizes loyalty data to target advertisements to customers. The company announced the initiative during its Investor Day presentation on September 23. While the company aims to build a media business targeting $1 billion in revenue, early customer feedback has been negative, with some users comparing the experience to watching a YouTube video.
Why it matters
The move follows a trend where retail giants like Amazon and Walmart have monetized their customer data through advertising networks. This strategy diversifies revenue streams beyond food sales. It coincides with broader efforts to automate drive-thru operations and reduce reliance on manual processes.
What is confirmed
- McDonald's is testing digital ads on drive-thru menus at 450 U.S. locations.
- The company announced the creation of the McDonald's Media Network during its September 23 Investor Day presentation.
- The advertising pilot uses loyalty data for targeting.
Still unconfirmed
- The McDonald's Media Network is targeting $1 billion in revenue.
- Some customers are swearing off the chain for good due to the drive-thru changes.
What to watch next
- Expansion of the pilot beyond 450 locations
- Official revenue reports from the McDonald's Media Network
- Customer retention data following the ad rollout
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (13)
- CNBC — Why McDonald's is following Walmart and Amazon into the advertising business
- nypost.com — McDonald’s is testing ads on drive-thru menus: 'it's like a YouTube video'
- USA Today — You may notice this the next time you're at a McDonald's drive-thru
- Allrecipes — McDonald’s Just Made a Big Drive-Thru Change—and Some Fans Are Swearing off the Chain for Good
- People.com — McDonald’s Is Testing a Change to Its Drive-Thrus: How the Pilot Program Will Impact Restaurants
- Southern Living — McDonald’s Just Announced A Drive-Thru Change Customers Should Know About
- lufkindailynews.com — You may notice this the next time you're at a McDonald's ...
- techstory.in — The Next Time You're at a McDonald’s Drive-Thru - TechStory
- article.wn.com — You may notice this the next time you're at a McDonald's ...
- finance.yahoo.com — McDonald's is spending $8.5 billion to put an AI called Archy ...
- finance.yahoo.com — You may notice this the next time you're at a McDonald's ...
- capitaldigest.com — McDonald's Launches Drive-Thru Ad Network for $1B Revenue
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