Rocket Talk: Can Marketers Hawk Aboard the TTC?

By Torontoist

Have questions about the TTC? Rocket Talk is a regular Torontoist column, featuring the TTC’s answers to Torontoist readers’ questions. Submit your questions to [email protected]!

Photo by spotmaticfanatic from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

Reader Jeremy McCormick asks:

What are the legalities of in–subway car marketing promotions? Specifically, are teams of marketers out to promote a movie allowed to board a subway car and talk about their product to TTC users?
This happened to me this morning, as five of them boarded a morning subway car and proceeded to give out cheap freebies and talk about their movie. (I’m not about to mention the movie as it would give their campaign legitimacy.) I understand that the TTC needs money, but to what end do the users have to endure being harassed by stupid gimmicks? What recourse do I have as a TTC user, other than ignoring them?

TTC Director of Communications Brad Ross says:

It’s not allowed. But this isn’t Twitter, dear reader, so I’ll expand a bit for you. It is Christmas after all.
Gimmicky marketing techniques have their place, but not on a subway car, streetcar, or bus. Now, I’m no marketing expert, but I venture to guess there are products or services looking for a quick hit, some free ink, or a memorable moment that only guerrilla marketing can achieve. Hollywood, judging by some of the movies I’ve paid to see based solely on a damn fine trailer, will go to great lengths to promote a movie. Perhaps asking for forgiveness rather than permission is part of their MO.
Advertising a product, service, or film cannot be done on TTC property without, you know, paying for it. But the TTC never, ever allows the kind of promo we’re discussing here to occur on any of our vehicles. You are, after all, captive. The TTC knows that its customers want to get to their destination without incident—no delays, no excitement, and no first-year acting class students dressed in costume and in full-character imploring you to check out a new movie.
Studios are permitted to promote their films with displays or characters in certain subway stations, but they must pay for that privilege. Certainly, if TTC personnel are made aware that a promotional activity is going on aboard a vehicle, we will ask them to leave. There are certain, other, actions we could take, but in the spirit of Christmas, I won’t invoke “legal remedies.” Next time it happens, though, please call us right away, or let the Station Collector know. We’ll take quick action.
You have the absolute right to ride the TTC without being harassed or bothered by anyone—be it Spiderman, “Brad Pitt,” a toga-wearing Nero, Gandalf, or a damn dirty ape.
Aaaand scene.