Get Your 15 Seconds of Fame on a Times Square Billboard in NYC!

Times Square is already a giant theater of light, but this experience puts your photo or video on the show. For 15 seconds every hour over 24 hours, your image appears on a billboard above the Pele store, directly across from the TKTS red steps. It is a simple idea with a big emotional payoff.

I like the surprise factor, especially for a birthday or milestone. I also like the flexibility: one entry can include a group photo, a short video, custom text, and a frame, so you can make the moment personal rather than simply displaying a face.

The main thing to check before paying is which billboard you will receive. Some bookings go to a second Times Square screen that may not appear on the available livestream and is less convenient to watch in person. Read the confirmation carefully, and make sure your photo or video has been submitted and approved.

Key points to know before you book

• Your image plays every hour for 24 hours: The display lasts 15 seconds each time, giving you several chances to catch it.
• The main screen is above the Pele store: It faces the TKTS red steps, a useful landmark in the center of Times Square.
• One ticket covers one photo or video: You can include one person or a whole group, and buy additional entries if needed.
• Personal touches are included: Add a custom frame and one line of text to your image or video.
• The exact play time comes by email: Some bookings have played five minutes past the hour, while others receive a different minute, so do not guess.
• Screen assignment matters: A second billboard may not have a livestream, so confirm the location before planning a viewing party.

What this Times Square billboard experience really is

This is not a walking tour, guided sightseeing trip, or long attraction. It is a one-day digital presentation centered on a single Times Square billboard. You submit your media, wait for approval, and then watch for your 15-second appearance during the assigned 24-hour period.

The listed meeting point is 1560 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. That places you in the heart of Times Square, near the Pele store and across from the TKTS red steps. The activity begins and ends at this same point, though the practical work of uploading your photo or video takes place through the booking process rather than with a guide on the street.

That distinction matters. You are paying for a scheduled piece of screen time, not a hosted visit. The fun comes from arranging the surprise, reaching the viewing spot, and seeing the image appear among the giant advertisements and signs of Times Square.

The display runs for 15 seconds every hour for 24 hours. You do not need to remain in Times Square all day. You can catch it several times if you plan well, or ask friends and family at home to watch if a livestream is available for your assigned screen.

Seeing your image above the Pele store

The most desirable setup is the billboard above the Pele store, facing the TKTS steps. This is a strong location for a simple reason: it is easy to identify, easy to reach, and surrounded by the familiar Times Square scene that makes the photo feel special.

You can stand near the red steps and wait for your image to appear. If you are arranging a surprise, this gives you a clear public place to bring someone without explaining why you picked that corner. A birthday message suddenly appearing overhead can turn an ordinary stop in Times Square into the main event.

The screen is larger than some people expect, which helps the image read clearly from the ground. Still, keep your expectations sensible. You receive 15 seconds, not a private advertisement campaign, and the billboard is one screen among many. The point is the personal connection, not a quiet or carefully controlled viewing environment.

Times Square is full of movement and bright signs. Your image may not be the only thing competing for attention, and taking a clear photo or video of the screen can be difficult at a busy moment. Give yourself more than one viewing chance when possible.

The second billboard and why screen assignment matters

A key detail can be easy to miss: your media may be assigned to a second billboard in Times Square rather than the screen above the Pele store. This alternate screen is still in the area, but it may not be as convenient to reach or watch.

The available livestream does not necessarily show the second screen. That creates a practical problem if friends or family back home expect to watch online, or if you plan to confirm the appearance through a webcam. The screen assignment may only become clear after payment and approval, so check every email carefully.

This is the most important caution I would give you. Do not promise someone a viewing party until you know the exact screen and whether livestream access applies. If the Pele store screen is important to you, ask for clarification before finalizing the booking.

A disappointing experience can come from a misunderstanding rather than a missing display. One unhappy customer expected to see the image on a webcam, but the selected billboard did not offer livestream access. The provider explained that this limitation had been included in the confirmation information. The lesson is plain: read the instructions, note the screen, and save the timing details.

Uploading one photo or video

One ticket allows you to submit one photo or video containing one or more people. You can appear alone, include a partner, show your family, or create a group birthday message. You may buy as many entries as you want, which could be useful if you want several images shown during the same trip.

The included design options are simple but useful. You can add a custom frame and one line of text to the photo or video. That gives you room for a birthday greeting, congratulations, anniversary message, or short personal note.

The strongest submissions are likely to be easy to read quickly. Fifteen seconds is long enough for a clear image and brief message, but not for a complicated story. Use a photo where faces are easy to recognize and keep the wording short enough to read from a distance.

The media must be submitted and approved before the booking is fully settled. You receive confirmation at booking, but you still need to complete the upload and approval steps. Do not leave this until the last minute, especially if the display is meant to surprise someone on a particular day.

Some customers found the preparation instructions confusing at first, particularly around whether they needed to reserve a specific time. The later confirmation normally provides the actual minute of the hour when the image will play. Follow that information rather than assuming it will appear exactly at the top of the hour.

Timing your 15-second appearance

The image appears once each hour for 24 hours. That sounds simple, but the exact minute matters. A message may play five minutes past the hour, while another booking could receive a different time.

Your confirmation email is the practical key to the whole experience. It should tell you when to look, and the provider may also send reminders. Set an alarm if you are moving around Manhattan, especially if your appearance is part of a busy birthday day or a planned surprise.

One viewing is enough to create the memory, but two or three viewings give you a better chance of seeing the screen clearly. Times Square is easy to reach by public transportation, and the activity is open daily from midnight to 11:30 p.m. The listed operating dates run from January 1, 2024, through March 1, 2027.

The 24-hour schedule also helps if you are not spending the full day in Times Square. You might catch the display during a morning walk, return after dinner, or ask someone at home to watch during another hour. One birthday celebrant happened to see the message from a tour bus, which made the timing feel even more memorable.

If you are giving this as a surprise, plan the reveal around the confirmed minute. Bring the recipient to the TKTS steps a few minutes early, keep the reason vague, and have your phone ready. The billboard moment is short, so missing it can mean waiting another hour.

Is $150 a good value?

At $150 per person, this is not a bargain attraction in the usual sightseeing sense. You are not receiving a full day of guided activities, admission to several sights, or transportation. You are buying a personal 15-second advertising slot repeated hourly for one day.

The value depends almost entirely on the occasion. For a milestone birthday, anniversary, proposal-related celebration, job promotion, or family surprise, the price can feel reasonable because the experience is highly specific and difficult to copy. A birthday message with a loved one’s face above Times Square creates a keepsake that a standard souvenir cannot match.

It is less compelling if you simply want a general New York activity. You can visit Times Square for free, and the billboard moment lasts only 15 seconds at a time. If your budget is tight, I would place this below major museums, observation decks, or other core New York sights.

The price becomes easier to justify when several people share the emotional payoff. One image can include a group, so a family or circle of friends can take part without needing a separate ticket for every face in the picture. You can also purchase multiple entries if you want different messages or images.

My advice is to think of this as a gift rather than a sightseeing tour. If you are buying it for someone who will treasure the surprise, $150 may be a fair price. If you are buying it mainly to fill an hour in Times Square, it is probably poor value.

Best occasions for the billboard

Birthdays are the obvious choice, and the format works particularly well for milestone ages. A 21st birthday, 50th birthday, or child’s birthday gives you a clear message and a recipient who understands the moment immediately.

The experience also suits congratulations. A job promotion, graduation, anniversary, or family achievement can be turned into a public message without requiring a long ceremony. One family used the screen to congratulate a husband on a promotion while also celebrating a child’s birthday.

An anniversary or memorial can carry more weight. A photo of a couple or loved one appearing in Times Square can mark an important date in a very public but still personal way. One especially meaningful use honored a deceased husband on an anniversary. That kind of occasion explains why this simple screen placement can feel much bigger than its short running time.

For a surprise, choose the image carefully. A clear portrait with a short message is easier to recognize than a crowded design. If you are using a video, keep the important moment visible right away. You do not control how much attention the surrounding signs will receive, so clarity matters.

Who will enjoy it most

I would recommend this for families, couples, close friends, and solo visitors celebrating something specific. It is especially useful when the recipient is already excited about New York or enjoys being the center of attention for a moment.

It also works well when some people cannot make the trip. If your assigned screen includes livestream access, relatives and friends at home can watch along. That makes the experience more than a private photo opportunity in Manhattan, though you must confirm livestream availability because it is not offered for every screen.

The activity is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed. The maximum group size is listed as 240, but remember that this is not a group tour moving through a series of sights. The number refers to the activity’s capacity, not to a guided group experience you will join.

I would be more cautious about booking it for someone who dislikes public attention or may not enjoy waiting in Times Square. The recipient needs to appreciate the idea of seeing their face on a huge screen. For the right person, the surprise is the whole point. For the wrong person, it could feel awkward.

Practical booking advice

Book ahead if the display must happen on a particular date. This experience is commonly reserved about 23 days before the chosen day, so a last-minute request may not offer the same comfort around approval and timing.

You receive a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided at booking. Still, treat the upload and approval as essential steps, not paperwork you can ignore. Check the photo or video requirements, submit promptly, and confirm that the media has been approved before telling the recipient the plan is guaranteed.

Save the confirmation email on your phone. Look for four details:

• The billboard location
• The exact minute of each hourly showing
• Whether livestream access is available
• The approval status of your image or video

If plans change, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. Since the experience is tied to a chosen date, make your decision early enough to keep that safety net.

My verdict: book it for a meaningful moment

You should book this if you want a bold, personal surprise and the recipient will enjoy seeing a photo or message above Times Square. The repeated hourly display, custom frame, short text option, and possible livestream make it more flexible than a one-time screen appearance.

Before paying, confirm the billboard assignment and livestream details. The screen above the Pele store, across from the TKTS steps, is the easiest setup to watch in person. If you receive the second screen, make sure you know exactly where it is and do not assume the webcam will show it.

At $150, this is a specialty purchase, not a general-value New York tour. For a birthday, anniversary, promotion, or remembrance, it can create a powerful memory. For an ordinary afternoon in Times Square, I would spend the money elsewhere. The best reason to book is not the billboard itself, but the person you want to surprise.

FAQ

How long does the photo or video appear?

Your image or video appears for 15 seconds every hour over a 24-hour period.

Can I include more than one person?

Yes. One ticket allows one photo or video with one or more people in it.

Can I add text or a decorative frame?

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

Where is the billboard located?

The primary location is above the Pele store at 1560 Broadway, across from the TKTS red steps in Times Square. Some bookings may be assigned to a second billboard.

Will the display be livestreamed?

Livestream access depends on the billboard assigned to your booking. The screen above the Pele store may be available through a livestream, but the second screen does not necessarily appear on it.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the local start time are not accepted for a refund.