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In this year's Super Bowl ads, brands are mostly playing it safe

Don't expect to see much political messaging in this year's Super Bowl ads. And definitely don't expect to see much on crypto.
BMW's commercial featuring actor Christopher Walken is among the funnier ads this year.
Screenshot via YouTube

TV ads speak directly to consumers' economic anxiety

Jan 30, 2024
Advertisers are using people not having enough money for some things — college, a house — to encourage them to spend on other things — chicken wings, anybody?
A screenshot from a recent SoFi ad, where a comically large backpack represents a bride's student loan debt.
SoFi

How the Puppy Bowl became a marketing juggernaut in its own right

Feb 10, 2023
The hotly anticipated canine sporting event, which runs counter to the Super Bowl, will return for its 19th year this Sunday.
Josh Allenhound, who comes from Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue in New York, will compete this Sunday on Team Fluff.
Elias Weiss Friedman/Animal Planet/Discovery +

What's in store with this year's Super Bowl commercials?

Feb 10, 2023
Expect brands to team up for ads, and a special surprise from Blockbuster.
Super Bowl LVII signage in Phoenix, Arizona. This year's commercials will likely make little to light reference to stressful economic conditions face by many Americans, says Ad Age editor Jeanine Poggi.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Super Bowl to highlight marriage of crypto and sports

Feb 11, 2022
Expect to see lots of commercials for a relative newcomer on the very expensive Super Bowl ad scene: crypto.
A screenshot from YouTube show's Tom Brady's commercial with FTX , a cryptocurrency exchange.
YouTube

Why multimillion-dollar Super Bowl ad slots are slower to sell out this year

Dec 18, 2020
Many companies are wary of investing that kind of money in an event during a pandemic for multiple reasons.
Fans react while watching the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, 2020. The next Super Bowl will be much different, and advertisers know it.
Philip Pacheco/Getty Images

Super Bowl ads less intense

Feb 8, 2016
The Super Bowl ads this year were lighter in tone than last year.

For public good, not for profit.

The Super Bowl, or El Gran Juego?

Feb 5, 2016
The NFL is going after a new fan base: Spanish-speaking Hispanics who grew up with soccer.
 Super Bowl 50 signage is displayed around Super Bowl City on February 4, 2016 in San Francisco, California.
Mike Windle/Getty Images

How much TV money does March Madness make?

Mar 21, 2013
The N.C.A.A. men's basketball tournament begins this week. Last year, the tournament earned its highest TV ratings in 18 years, while taking in more than $1 billion in revenue from ads. But Stephen Dubner of Freakonomics Radio wondered if CBS and Turner aren't making enough.

Twitter shines as lights go out at Superdome

Feb 4, 2013
A dark moment in football history is turning out to be a bright spot for social media.