McDonald's is experimenting with a new revenue stream: advertising on its drive-thru digital menu boards. According to a Bloomberg report covered by The Verge, the company has launched a "limited" pilot at company-owned restaurants, where ads from other brands will appear on the screens after a customer completes their order.
The pilot is restricted to company-owned locations, not franchisees, and the ads are shown only after the transaction is placed. This timing suggests McDonald's is testing whether customers will tolerate third-party promotions while waiting for their food, without disrupting the ordering process.
The move reflects a broader trend of restaurants seeking additional income from digital screens. However, the source provides no details on which brands are participating, how long the pilot will last, or how McDonald's will measure success. The Verge's report is based solely on Bloomberg's initial reporting, so independent confirmation is not yet available.