The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals threatened legal action against the city of Greensboro, but backed off the threat when it was allowed to run an advertisement.
PETA planned to advertise against a circus that is coming to Greensboro next week. But some confusion related to ad size and placement led to the threat of legal action.
PETA wanted to place vertical advertisements at city bus shelters. But, the Greensboro Transit Authority offers advertising only on the inside and outside of their buses and vertical advertisements at their bus depot downtown.
Due to the confusion in ad placement, the transit authority's management declined the request. PETA then threatened legal action. After the confusion was cleared, PETA formatted its advertisement to fit what Greensboro Transit Authority could place.
Kevin Elwood is the marketing and communications manager for the Greensboro Transit Authority. He says advertising revenue makes up $100,000 per year of their budget. "In the scope of our $21 million budget, it's not a whole lot but is a little extra money that we are able to use for the operation of our transit services," he said.
Officials say anyone can advertise on city buses after going through the transit authority's advertising agency and then approved by management.
This story has been updated from an earlier version.
