Our Ref:         FOI-1411-2021

Thank you for your request received on 23 October 2020 asking for information about advertisements on our network categorised as “finance”.
 
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked for:
 
1. The total number of advertisements on TFL's network. I would like this information for the three most recent years, for the period April to September i.e. April to September 2018, April to September 2019, and April to September 2020.
 
We are unable to provide this information for a 6 month period. The total number of advertisements run on TfL’s network for the financial year 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 are:
 
April – March 2018/2019: 20,417
April  March 2019/2020: 23,712
 
The total number of advertisements run on our network is calculated annually by our media partners and the figures for 2020/2021 will be reported to us in March 2021.
 
2. The number of advertisements on TfL’s network by advertisers in the “Finance” category. I would like this information for the three most recent years, for the period April to September i.e. April to September 2018, April to September 2019, and April to September 2020.
 
The number of advertisements within the ‘Finance category are:
 
2018/2019: 1063
2019/2020: 1336
 
As above, the total number of advertisements run on our network is calculated annually by our media partners and the figures for 2020/2021 will be reported to us in March 2021.
 
3. TfL’s total revenue from advertising on its network. I would like this information for the three most recent years, for the period April to September i.e. April to September 2018, April to September 2019, and April to September 2020.
 
TfL’s quarterly progress reports are published on our website: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/quarterly-progress-reports.
 
Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 relate to the period from April to September each financial year:
 
2018/2019: £61m
2019/2020: £65m
 
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information for 2020/21 as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information, under Section 22 of the Act.
 
In this instance the exemption has been applied as the information you have requested is intended for future publication. The figures for our Quarter 2 revenue will be published on our website:
 
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/quarterly-progress-reports
 
Total revenue from commercial media activity for Quarter 1 (April to June 2020) was £3m; this number reflects the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
This exemption is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to assess whether the public interest in applying the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. In this instance, it is considered that the public interest favours the publication of this information, in context and according to the pre-determined schedule, rather than in response to your request, to ensure the information is provided accurately and in an accessible manner.
 
4. TfL’s revenue from advertising on its network by advertisers in the “Finance” category. I would like this information for the three most recent years, for the period April to September i.e. April to September 2018, April to September 2019, and April to September 2020.
 
We do not hold this information as it is not provided to us by our media partner.
 
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.
 
If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation.
 
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]