{
  "id": 9172176,
  "title": "McDonald’s Tests Selling Digital Menu Board Ad Space to Other Brands",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mcdonalds-tests-selling-digital-menu-board-ad-space-to-other-brands",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-22T18:16:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PYMNTS",
    "slug": "pymnts",
    "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/restaurant-technology/2026/mcdonalds-tests-selling-digital-menu-board-ad-space-to-other-brands/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "McDonald's is conducting an experiment that involves incorporating advertisements from other companies onto its digital menu boards in drive-thrus and physical restaurants, according to Bloomberg. These ads appear following customers' order placement and can be viewed while waiting for their meals. A company spokesperson explained that this pilot program aims to share post-purchase content that customers might find helpful, relevant, or interesting, all while maintaining the central role of the McDonald's experience. Retailers are increasingly becoming \"media environments\" where brands pay to influence consumers' decisions at the moment of purchase. Retail media networks, which leverage data and insights, are becoming more central to advertising strategies. For instance, Dollar General has expanded its AI-enabled in-store audio network that connects messaging to point-of-sale data and local store conditions. Retailers like CVS are also harnessing first-party data to create a competitive edge through retail media. Despite a slight 0.8% increase in comparable sales in the United States during the most recent quarter, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski acknowledged the need to reevaluate their value-driven approach. He stated that the company would no longer compromise on value, and the AI ordering system unveiled in June would be tested at five U.S. locations.",
  "summary": "McDonald’s is testing placing ads from other brands on the digital menu boards in its drive-thrus and in its restaurants, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (Sept. 22). The ads are shown after customers place their orders and can be viewed while customers wait for their meals, according to the report. “This limited menu board advertising pilot at […] The post McDonald’s Tests Selling Digital Menu Board…",
  "key_points": [
    "McDonald's testing ads on digital menu boards in drive-thrus and restaurants.",
    "Ads appear after order placement, during meal wait time.",
    "Pilot aims to share post-purchase, relevant content to customers."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}