Digital Signage Expo has announced the results of its Quarterly Business Barometer Survey for Q3 ’09.

97% of all survey participants in North America remain positive about the future of the Digital Out-of-Home Industry – up from 94% in Q2 – (61% Very Positive; 36% Somewhat Positive). Those most positive about the DOOH Industry numbered about the same across each of the three main groups of respondents, which included Technology/Content Providers (62%), Advertising/Marketing Professionals (60%), and End Users/OOH Network Operators (59%).

Other key findings from the survey:

- In Q3, 15% more End User/Network Operators than in Q2 reported that their actual DOOH advertising revenues were higher than in the previous quarter and another 5% projected that their advertising revenues in next quarter will be higher than in Q2.

- Technology/Content Provider respondents predicted that the hottest growth categories for DOOH in the next 12 months would include Retail (53%), Healthcare (36%), Transportation (31%), Restaurant (31%), Education (29%), Stadium/Arena (27%), and Corporate Campus (26%).

- Although the average number of screens coming on line per installation is down, a healthy 83% of end-user respondents (up from 76% in Q2) indicated a commitment to install for the first time, add to, replace or upgrade current DS systems.

- Just over two-thirds (68%) of survey participants said their Q3 2009 ad spend was “Higher or About the Same” as Q2, up 13% over the previous quarter. The top categories targeted for that investment were: Retail, Public Spaces, Restaurant/Bar/ Nightclub, Arts/Entertainment, Healthcare, Education, Transportation, Hospitality (Hotels/Motels), and Banks/Brokerage Firms.