A billboard moment in the middle of NYC. You can broadcast your own photo or video on a Times Square screen above the Pele store, firing up for 15 seconds every hour for a full 24 hours. I love that it’s in the heart of Times Square, so your moment feels real, not staged—and I also love that you can add a frame and a line of text to make it look like a proper announcement.

There’s one catch to plan around: your booking is only confirmed after you submit your media and it gets approved. If you’re hoping for last-minute perfection, you’ll want to upload early and double-check everything so you’re not scrambling.

Key points at a glance

• 15 seconds, every hour, for 24 hours: your content repeats all day long
• Prime placement: above the Pele store, across from the TKTS red steps
• Personalization options: choose a frame and add a line of text
• One ticket = one submission: upload 1 photo/video per ticket, with one or more people
• Mobile ticket: easy to carry in your phone
• Limited crowd size: capped at 240 travelers, so it doesn’t feel chaotic

Times Square billboard fame: what you’re really paying for

This isn’t a generic photo op where a guide snaps pictures and you’re done in five minutes. What you’re buying is repeat visibility in one of the world’s loudest attention machines: Times Square.

Your content shows up for 15 seconds every hour for 24 hours. That means, in practice, you get multiple “watch moments” across the day. If you’re on foot exploring, it’s fun to time your route so you catch it. If you’re sharing with family back home, it’s also a great way to make them feel included without asking them to be in NYC.

At $150 per person, it sounds like a splurge—until you think about what that $150 turns into: a day-long billboard run instead of a single snapshot. It’s the difference between saying, we visited Times Square, and saying, we had our own moment on it.

One more thing I appreciate: it’s flexible. You can submit a solo shot or a group image with one ticket, as long as your photo/video includes everyone you want to feature.

Where to find the billboard in Times Square (1560 Broadway and the Pele/TKTS area)

The meeting point is 1560 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. From there, your main orientation point is the billboard location itself: it’s above the Pele store and directly across from the TKTS red steps.

That matters more than it sounds. Times Square is huge and busy. When you know the exact “anchor” (Pele + TKTS), you can navigate without turning your day into a scavenger hunt. You’ll also have a better chance of catching your own broadcast while you’re nearby.

Also, if you’re surprising someone, this area helps your plan. You can position people where they’ll naturally look up at the big screens—so the reveal feels spontaneous instead of staged.

How the 15-second-by-the-hour broadcast works

Here’s the rhythm: your image or video plays for 15 seconds every hour across a 24-hour window. That repetition is the whole point of this experience.

Practically, you should assume your best odds for seeing it happen are:

• when you’re standing in the correct spot, and
• when you’re there during multiple “hour marks” (or at least around them)

Several people talk about how their favorite moment wasn’t just the billboard run—it was the timing of when they walked past it and saw it fire up. If you have a tight NYC schedule, you’ll want to build in a little extra time just to hang around the area and catch at least one showing.

And since you’re putting your face (or someone else’s) onto a screen, treat the upload like you’re making a gift:

• use a clear photo,
• keep text simple,
• and make sure the framing fits how you want it to look at billboard size.

Uploading your photo or video: one ticket, one submission

One ticket lets you submit 1 photo or video. That submission can include one or more people—so family groups and couple celebrations work well.

If you want multiple people featured in different ways, you can buy more than one ticket. That gives you multiple submissions, which can be useful if you’re doing something like:

• one image for the birthday person, and
• a second image for the whole family,

or if you want different text lines for the same event.

One important operational detail: your booking isn’t considered confirmed until you submit your photo/video and it gets approved. So even if your payment goes through right away, plan your timing so your upload happens with enough runway for approval.

Custom frame and text: making it look intentional

You can customize your submission with:

• a custom frame, and
• a line of text added to your image or video

This is the part that turns your upload into a message. A frame helps your image look like it belongs on the billboard. The text line is what makes it instantly understandable to anyone watching from the street.

If you’re making this for a specific occasion, keep the message short and readable. Times Square screens are big, but the viewer is usually moving, glancing quickly, and surrounded by competing visual noise.

A simple setup usually wins:

• the person’s name,
• a short event label like Happy Birthday or Anniversary, and
• the date (if it fits cleanly)

If you go too long, you risk your message turning into visual clutter.

Your visit day: what to expect at Times Square

The activity is listed as about 1 day, and it starts and ends at the meeting point. In real life, that usually means your “tour” is mostly about getting to the exact spot, syncing your visit to the broadcast window, and then sticking around long enough to see your moment happen.

Because your content runs across 24 hours, you don’t need to see it exactly once and leave. If you have the time, it’s better to enjoy the surrounding neighborhood while your billboard is actively looping your message.

Here’s a strategy that works well:

• arrive early enough to get your bearings near the Pele/TKTS landmark,
• take a few relaxed minutes for photos in the area (just don’t overdo it—you want to stay near the billboard),
• then time your passing so you catch it at least one time, and ideally more.

Also, check your setup so you’re not waiting around with uncertainty. The experience relies on your media upload and approval, so give yourself a buffer.

Price and value: is $150 worth a 24-hour billboard run?

Let’s break down the math and the feeling.

You’re paying $150 per person for a sequence that repeats 24 times (15 seconds each hour for 24 hours). That’s about 6 minutes total display time across the day. But it doesn’t feel like 6 minutes, because it’s scattered through the full day, so you can line up multiple “I saw it fire on” moments.

What makes the value make sense is the emotional payoff:

• anniversaries feel extra tangible when the person’s face appears in Times Square,
• birthdays become a shared story instead of a single photo,
• and surprises feel more real when the recipient sees it with their own eyes.

There’s also a practical value angle. Times Square is an expensive place to “make memories” in the traditional way: it can cost a lot for activities, tickets, and tours. This is one paid item that directly creates a signature keepsake.

The downside of thinking about value is that some people only want a quick photo. If that’s your style, you may prefer a cheaper Times Square photo session. But if you want a gift that genuinely grabs attention, this has a strong payoff.

The main trade-offs to know before you go

The experience can be magical, but there are a few realities to respect.

First, approval affects certainty. Your booking isn’t fully confirmed until your photo/video is submitted and approved. If you upload too late, or if your submission needs changes, you can risk disappointment even after you pay.

Second, you may want to set your expectations about monitoring. Some people talk about being able to watch it via a live stream/webcam, while others mention that livestream viewing may depend on the specific screen your image is assigned to. So don’t assume you’ll always see it online exactly the way you expect.

Third, timing matters for the surprise moment. The billboard runs on an hourly rhythm. If you plan to surprise someone, you’ll need to be nearby when the display triggers, not just arrive whenever.

None of these are deal-breakers. They just mean you should treat this like a real production timeline, not a last-minute gimmick.

Who this suits best (and who should skip it)

This works especially well if you want:

• a birthday or milestone surprise with their name and message visible,
• a couple or family tribute,
• a fun flex moment during a trip to NYC,
• or a meaningful way to honor someone special.

It also fits solo travelers who want a strong personal memory—one person even described seeing their own “Happy Birthday” billboard multiple times and loving the timing when they spotted it unexpectedly while out.

I’d think twice if:

• you hate being tied to a specific time window,
• you want something you can fully control from home without any dependency on upload/approval,
• or you’re the type who dislikes planning steps for a surprise.

If you enjoy a small bit of coordination—upload early, double-check your text, and build time to be in the area—this is a great match.

Should you book this Times Square billboard moment?

Book it if you want a gift that people will talk about later. This is one of those rare NYC experiences where the “wow” isn’t just in your photos—it’s on a screen in the middle of Times Square for a full day.

Skip it if you’re looking for a classic guided tour or a quick stop-and-go attraction. You’re paying for visibility and timing. When you treat it like that, the experience delivers.

If you do book, my best advice is simple: upload early, keep your message short and clear, and plan to be near the Pele/TKTS area around the hours your billboard will switch on.

FAQ

How long is the billboard experience?

It’s listed as approximately 1 day, with your photo or video appearing for 15 seconds every hour for 24 hours.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is 1560 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, USA.

What shows on the billboard?

You can submit 1 photo or video (per ticket). It can include one or more people.

Can I customize what appears on the billboard?

Yes. You can add a custom frame and a line of text to your image or video.

When will my image or video appear?

Your image appears for 15 seconds every hour for 24 hours.

Is my booking confirmed immediately?

No. Your booking will be confirmed after you submit your photo/video and it has been approved.

Do I need a print ticket?

No. The experience uses a mobile ticket.

Is there a livestream option?

The provided details indicate a livestream may not be available for the billboard selected, and whether you can view the broadcast online may depend on the specific screen assignment.

What’s the group size limit?

The activity has a maximum of 240 travelers.

Is cancellation free?

Yes. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.