e-media

What e-media does

E-media Inc. is a privately held, Atlanta, Georgia-based company founded in 1996 that operates a nationwide wireless LED display advertising network. The company sells modular LED sign hardware across nine core models (6601 through 6660) ranging from 48-inch matrices to 48-foot custom configurations, with optional back-illuminated transparency light boxes and custom architectural enclosures. Signs are updated remotely over Signtel Inc.'s patented alpha-numeric paging wireless technology without manual programming, enabling 24-hour nationwide delivery of sports scores, headline news, NASCAR standings, market indexes, business news, weather, and health news to installed venues. E-media monetizes through three streams: hardware sales of LED signs to venue operators, recurring content/advertising network services with sponsorship slots tied to information categories, and one-time custom sign fabrication for unique architectural requirements such as the curved FOX Sky Box installations.

The company's customer base is primarily sports bars, restaurants, and pubs (91 sites across Atlanta, Phoenix, and NY/Long Island serving 13.2M annual traffic), with material positions in airport sports bars including NFL-themed Home Turf locations (LAX, Detroit, Seattle, Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix) generating 13M+ annual impressions, FOX Sky Box venues (O'Hare, Phoenix, Las Vegas, LaGuardia, Charlotte) generating 3M+ annual impressions, plus adult entertainment/night clubs, fitness centers, and retail/institutional segments. The advertising network spans 181M+ total annual impressions across all venue categories. Strategic partnerships include Panasonic (which sponsored the 36-sign Atlanta Airport network during the 1996 Summer Olympics), FOX Sports and the NFL (for co-branded airport venue concepts), DirecTV (video feeds), and AG Industries (OEM/whitelabel for the 'NEWSSTAND' product). E-media uses a direct sales go-to-market targeting mid-market venue operators and enterprise airport venues, supplemented by trade show presence (e.g., the ESPN booth at CABLE'98 in Atlanta). No funding rounds, ownership changes, or revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

e-media

Legal name

e-media Inc.

Website

https://eme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

E-media Inc. operates a nationwide wireless LED display advertising network, selling modular LED signs and recurring content/advertising services to sports bars, restaurants, night clubs, airports, fitness centers, and retail venues, with content delivered remotely via Signtel Inc.'s patented alpha-numeric paging technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LED Display Signage

NAICS

Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (54185), Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850), Sign Manufacturing (33995)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Signage & Commercial Displays (HDACADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Large-Format / Spectacular OOH (Building Wraps, Digital Spectaculars) (MPAAAKAF)

Keywords

• LED display signs
• Wireless signage network
• Digital out-of-home advertising
• Sports bar displays
• Wireless content delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Advertising Network: E-media operates an advertising network across its LED display locations. Each news and information category is introduced by a sponsor, and sponsor logos remain during content presentation. Ad messages can be presented between information updates, including promotions for on-premise events or third-party advertisements. Annual impressions total over 181 million across all venue categories.
2. LED Hardware Sales: Sale of LED display signs and light box systems to venue operators including custom sign applications for unique architectural requirements.
3. Wireless Update Services: Provides custom message update services where customers fax or email messages for display on signs. Includes 24-hour nationwide news and information broadcasts covering Headline News, Sports, NASCAR, Market Indexes, Business News, Weather, and Health News.
4. Custom Sign Applications: Custom sign fabrication for unique architectural installations including curved signs for FOX Sky Box locations and indoor/outdoor LED signs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

e-media sells modular LED matrix display signs (Models 6601 through 6660) integrated with a nationwide wireless content-update service. The signs receive real-time news, sports scores, market indexes, weather, and advertising via Signtel Inc.'s patented alpha-numeric paging technology. The company also operates an advertising network across its installed base in sports bars, restaurants, night clubs, airports, and fitness centers.

Product overview

e-media operates as a wireless LED display network offering a platform of modular LED sign products combined with a nationwide news and information broadcast service. The core product line consists of multiple LED sign models (6601, 6605, 6610, 6612, 6613, 6625, 6650, 6655, 6660) ranging from 48" to 96" wide matrices, with compatible back-illuminated transparency light boxes. These hardware products are powered by Signtel's patented wireless update technology, enabling remote content delivery via alpha-numeric paging. The offering is differentiated by an integrated News and Information Service delivering Headline News, Sports Scores, NASCAR, Market Indexes, Business News, Weather, and Health News, with sponsorship slots tied to each information category. Add-on services include Custom Sign Applications (architectural enclosures, curved signs) and Outdoor Digital Sign Systems for retail and commercial exterior installations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Model 6601 LED Sign Standard LED sign with 48" x 5" LED matrix display and 48" x 10.5" back-illuminated transparency area for venue operators.
• Model 6605 LED Sign Standard LED sign with 32" x 5" LED matrix display, available with 30" x 10.5" or 30" x 20" transparency options; supports multi-line graphics and 16 by 96 dot matrix.
• Model 6610 LED Sign Standard LED sign with 32" x 10" LED matrix display; Model 6610D variant features 96 by 32 dot matrix with 30" by 20" light box.
• Model 6612 LED Sign Standard LED sign with 36" x 5" red-only LED matrix and 34" x 10.5" transparency area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91 sports bar locations with 13,229,105 annual traffic and 233 new sites planned
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• PanasonicflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Panasonic was the sponsor of the 36-sign wireless network at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta Airport. E-media installed the network to guide and inform athletes, their families, and Olympic officials as they received their credentials, displaying sports news, international news, and Olympic standings over the E-media Wireless Network.
• Signtel Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationE-media uses Signtel Inc.'s patented technology to update signs on a nationwide basis using alpha-numeric paging. Simply power up the sign and it is ready to receive programs, text, graphics, and news and information updates. This is the core technology enabling E-media's wireless update capability.
• FOX SportsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOX Sky Box Sports Bar and Grill concept designed to have the look and feel of the FOX Sports TV show. LED message boards are located around walls in spans up to 48 feet long with sponsor logos displayed every 12 feet minimum. Locations feature Internet access to FOXSPORTS.COM, wall-to-wall video monitors, and video feeds from FOX and DirecTV.
• NFLflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome Turf is an NFL theme sports bar venue featuring wall-to-wall NFL memorabilia, video wall, and video monitors. These high-profile sports bars are located at major airports including LAX, Detroit, Seattle, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Miami, San Diego, and Phoenix.
• AG IndustriesminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAG Industries 'NEWSSTAND' product uses e-media wireless update signs. Each message can turn on rear illumination for any or all of nine windows, allowing messages to have color transparencies associated with them.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Captivate: Operates a venue-based digital signage advertising network (office towers, fitness, residential) selling advertising on in-venue screens. Same network-based DOOH business model as e-media.
• Daktronics: Leading manufacturer of large-format LED displays and scoreboards for sports venues, stadiums, and commercial applications. Closest direct peer in LED display hardware serving sports and venue customers.
• Adspace Networks: Operated a digital signage advertising network in U.S. malls — venue-based digital OOH network with advertising sales as the primary revenue model, structurally analogous to e-media's venue advertising model.
• Watchfire (Daktronics): LED sign manufacturer for on-premise commercial and venue signage, now owned by Daktronics. Directly comparable in LED sign hardware sold to venues and businesses.

Broad incumbents

• Clear Channel Outdoor: Global OOH advertising operator with airports and roadside digital displays. Comparable to e-media on the airport advertising side and on multi-format venue advertising.
• Outfront Media: Major U.S. out-of-home advertising operator including transit and digital out-of-home inventory. Useful comparison for venue-based OOH ad pricing and margin structure.
• Lamar Advertising: Large publicly traded outdoor advertising company with a growing digital billboard portfolio. Provides scale benchmark for venue- and roadside-based OOH economics, though broader and less venue-niche than e-media.

Emerging players

• BroadSign: Provides CMS software that powers digital signage and DOOH advertising networks. Comparable as the technology layer enabling venue-based digital OOH networks like e-media's.
• Vistar Media: Programmatic DOOH ad-buying platform enabling real-time, audience-targeted buying across venue-based digital signage networks. Represents the modern, programmatic evolution of the model e-media pioneered.

Regional players

• Focus Media (FOCUS MEDIA Information): China's largest in-building and in-venue digital advertising network operator. Comparable business model (venue-based digital ad screens) but operating in China, not the U.S. market e-media serves.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about e-media