Ads are true Super Bowl entertainment
For many sports fans the biggest holiday of the year is coming up this weekend. Yes, it’s Super Bowl Sunday. The Super Bowl has become an icon of American culture and has assumed the status of a national holiday.
Super Bowl Sunday has become a social gathering not just centered around watching the Super Bowl but by watching the Super Bowl commercials.
The Super Bowl has become an event unlike most other sports, it doesn’t really matter who’s playing, because it’s more about friends and family gathering to watch the commercials, the game itself is just added entertainment for most people.
Only the die-hard football fan gets caught up and excited about the game. Today’s Super Bowl viewers center their attention around the commercials. They want to watch, critique and debate over which are the best and worst commercials.
In a recent study more than half the viewers would rather miss the game than miss the commercials. So it’s no surprise to anyone why companies are willing to spend millions and millions of dollars to broadcast their adds during the Super Bowl.
Sponsors will be trying to impress over 100 million viewers or ad critics this weekend, with hopes of their commercial taking top honors with fans on Sunday.
It’s not just the sponsors cashing in on Super Bowl Sunday, but the Fox network. This year’s ad will cost $2.7-3 million for a 30-second spot, which is an increase of around $125,000 over last year. But the demand is so high for around 63 spots, most companies are more than willing to shell out what ever it takes to showcase their product during the Super Bowl.
Is $3 million a bargain? According to the experts, yes. The highest rated prime time TV show reaches about 40 million people. The Super Bowl is the only way a company can reach a mass audience of 100 million or more.
Some companies try to cash in on the Super Bowl market without being officially associated with the game. This year KFC has offered to pay $260,000 to any scoring player that does a chicken dance in the end zone, with the money being donated in the name of the player to a company charity.
The Super Bowl market even reaches the Internet. Fox is giving its advertisers ad space on MySpace, which will help reach the younger viewers. Fox will run promotions during the game to convince viewers to go to the site.
I have to admit, watching the commercials have become a big part of my Super Bowl entertainment. Over the years there’s been some great ads and the following are a few of my favorite.
Monster.com,1999: When I grow up.
McDonalds,1993: Showdown featuring Larry Bird and Michael Jordon.
Last year’s Sprint Crime Deterrent. Not just a phone, it also helps fight crime.
Everyone’s favorite, the 1984 Apple commercial introducing the Macintosh computer.
Most people think the Mean Joe Green Coke commercial in 1979 debuted during the Super Bowl, but it actually aired before the Super Bowl.
So get ready, I’m sure this year’s commercials will produce at least one classic moment.