About This Camera
This live feed is angled upward to capture what Times Square is arguably most famous for: its astonishing wall of light. Towers stretching 30 to 50 floors are wrapped in giant LED panels, cycling through a constant rotation of advertisements, public service announcements and branded content. From street level, standing among them is an almost overwhelming sensory experience — and this camera brings that feeling directly to your screen.
The view changes dramatically by hour, season and weather. A clear winter night turns the screens into beacons visible from blocks away, while a humid summer evening wraps each billboard in a faint, cinematic haze. Rain produces spectacular light reflections on the wet tower facades.
The Famous Billboards You Can See
- One Times Square (1475 Broadway) — the slender 25-story building clad almost entirely in LED panels, home of the Ball Drop
- Nasdaq MarketSite Tower — the enormous curved LED cylinder at 4 Times Square, one of the largest single screens in the world
- 3 Times Square (Reuters Building) — news and financial ticker wrapping around the base of the tower
- 11 Times Square — a glass curtain-wall tower with integrated LED media on its façade
- Marriott Marquis Hotel signs — towering Broadway-facing LED panels on the 45-story hotel
- Pedestrian plazas — street-level LED signage, TKTS booth displays and interactive installations
The Science of the Glow
Times Square uses an estimated 40+ distinct LED display systems totalling tens of thousands of square feet of illuminated surface. City regulations actually mandate that all properties in the district maintain a minimum illumination level — making Times Square one of the few places on earth where darkness is illegal by zoning code.
The screens run 24 hours a day. The brightest configurations — during peak advertising periods from 6–11 PM — output enough light to be legible in full daylight. At night, the combined glow raises the ambient light level of the entire block above that of an overcast day.
Behind the Screens: The Advertising District
Advertising in Times Square is among the most expensive in the world. A 60-second spot on a prominent screen can cost $10,000 to $50,000 per day on premium displays. The revenue supports everything from building maintenance to the Times Square Alliance's public programming budget. The screens also broadcast live sports, election results, charity campaigns and public health messages during major events.
Best Times to Watch
- After sunset any evening — the screen-to-sky contrast is at its most dramatic
- New Year's Eve — the screens run special countdown graphics and confetti effects
- Super Bowl Sunday — live scores and brand takeovers dominate every screen
- Snowfall — snowflakes caught in the billboard light create a magical effect
- Earth Hour (late March) — the rare, brief dimming of all screens is historic to witness