It is increasingly common for many of the biggest ads to debut in the days running up to the big game
We’re just days away from the big game – and the Super Bowl remains the one event of the year where many people tune in just to see the commercials. That is why this year NBC is now charging $6.5 million per 30-second ad spot, up from $5.5 million last year. That is quite a jump from the first Super Bowl in 1967 when the Super Bowl aired on both NBC and CBS. The former charged $75,000 for a 60 second spot, while the latter charged $85,000 – unheard of at the time. For years, Super Bowl ads were often just regular commercials, but that began to change in 1980, when, during Super Bowl 14, the now famous Coca-Cola commercial – titled “Hey Kid, Catch” – in which “Mean” Joe Greene gives his game jersey to a young boy aired. While it had already debuted during the NFL season in the fall of 1979, it struck a chord with audiences on Super Bowl Sunday. The first truly “game changing” ad came just four years later. It was Apple’s “1984” commercial, which was broadcast during Super Bowl 18. Directed by film maker Ridley Scott, it had cost about $375,000 to produce – while the average commercial spot that year was $525,000. It was a considerable sum for what was then still a largely unknown company, but it was seen as a worthwhile investment as the spot was reportedly seen by 85 million people and continues to rank as one of the most famous commercials ever. Yet, it was actually the second time the ad aired. It had been broadcast on a small number of local western U.S. stations just before midnight on December 31,1983 so that it would qualify for the 1984 Clio Awards. Moreover, unlike many of today’s ads that will be seen for weeks after the event, the “1984” commercial wasn’t actually broadcast again. It is available on YouTube however. Ads In 2022 Today, it is increasingly common for many of the biggest ads to debut in the days running up to the big game. And in the social media era, many ads can even go viral even if the game lacks excitement.
