30 September 2026 edition | United States
Geopath’s published timetable schedules the preview of its 2026 planning dataset for 30 September, creating a review point for US out-of-home advertisers, agencies and media owners ahead of the planned default transition in November.
In its 7 August release schedule, Geopath says the preview will be available to members through the Insights Suite and API. It also outlines supporting learning resources and webinars.
This article reports that published schedule. Availability of the preview has not been independently confirmed for this edition, and the schedule alone should not be described as evidence that access has already opened. Members should consult Geopath’s current notices before relying on the preview in a live planning workflow.
A dataset change needs a documented comparison
BillboardGuide’s analysis: When an audience dataset changes, buyers need to distinguish changes in the estimate from changes in campaign delivery. A different number in a planning tool does not, by itself, show that a screen has gained viewers or that an advertisement has become more effective.
Record the dataset version alongside the inventory selection, geography, audience definition and planning period. When comparing estimates, keep the other inputs consistent where possible. If several variables change together, the comparison may be difficult to interpret.
BillboardGuide’s guide to OOH metrics beyond impressions offers a useful framework for keeping audience estimates in the context of broader campaign objectives.
Align proposals before comparing price
Agencies and media owners should identify the dataset used in each proposal, especially while preview and established data may be part of different workflows. A buying team needs to know whether two apparently comparable offers were calculated on the same basis.
This also affects cost comparisons. If the estimated impression denominator changes while the price remains the same, the calculated CPM can move. That arithmetic does not independently demonstrate a change in the inventory’s commercial value.
Use BillboardGuide’s CPM calculator with clearly labelled inputs. Keep the audience definition and measurement version visible in the accompanying planning notes, so another reviewer can reproduce the calculation.
Prepare for the transition without rewriting history
A practical review should cover the tools used to plan, export and report campaigns. Ask the relevant platform or data provider how preview access is identified and how the eventual default change will affect saved plans. Do not assume that every integrated tool changes on the same day.
Preserve the original assumptions for earlier proposals and completed campaigns. If a plan is recalculated with a newer dataset, label it as a revised estimate and explain the basis of the comparison. That allows stakeholders to follow the decision without confusing an updated planning estimate with an observed campaign result.
BillboardGuide’s media planning guide can help connect the data review to campaign goals, inventory selection and budget decisions. The immediate priority is a consistent, traceable planning process while the scheduled preview and later transition are assessed.