Why are the Super Bowl Ads so important? Meet The Top 10 In History!
Every February we see how media covers this huge event, with their outstanding halftime shows and the two best NFL teams playing for the National title. But there's something else that brings people into watching it... and that's TV commercials.
For decades, Super Bowl Ads and Commercials have been evolving into greater productions that generate millions of dollars in revenue. But, why is that?
Well, the Super Bowl draws A LOT of attention. It's an opportunity for brands to get their message out in front of millions of potential customers. This makes the advertisements an integral part of this broadcast experience, taking you beyond just watching the game.
Every Advertising Agency in charge of a Super Bowl commercial has the duty of making it as entertaining, creative and memorable as possible. These ads can become cultural touchstones, spark conversations and provide meaningful connections.
Let's dig into the specifics of what happens during the Super Bowl and why is it so big.
The always-huge Super Bowl audience
Let's have in mind this is the most watched TV event of the year in the USA, so obviously advertisers will be eager to get their products in front of as many people as possible. The Super Bowl XLIX had 114 million viewers during the commercial breaks.
Commercials are the most valuable part of the broadcast
Lots of people watch the game only for this reason. The ads are what make people tune in to the Super Bowl, even if they don't care about football at all. In fact, lots of viewers consider the halftime show is as just an added bonus. Even if you do like football, you'll probably still stay & watch the commercials.
The Super Bowl is the most effective time to reach audiences in person, online and on TV
More than 100 million people watch the game, and more than 200 million people watch halftime. It's broadcast on three major networks: CBS, NBC and Fox. This means that you have a huge audience at your fingertips!
The halftime show generates worldwide conversation
We're talking about the most-watched musical event of the year. It's a spectacle that everyone looks forward to. Some people even say they watch it more than they do football. The tradition began in 1972 when America's favorite band, Up With People, performed at halftime during Super Bowl VII in Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum. Since then, many great acts have taken part in this tradition including: Michael Jackson (1993), Madonna (2012) and Lady Gaga (2018).
The halftime show is not only important because of its ratings but also because it brings together people from around the world.
Commercials are integrated into the game itself
The commercials are never meant to be seen as interruptions to the broadcast. They are part of the game itself, woven into its fabric and given equal weight with the action on the field. It's all part of the Super Bowl viewing experience because they provide entertainment between plays.
Think about how many times you've been excited about watching a play only for it to end quickly with no time left on the clock! Commercials make sure that doesn't happen by keeping things moving at all times -- and providing much needed laughs in tense moments.
Super Bowl commercials are going beyond TV
They're an important part of the broadcast, but also for conversations on Social Media and it's important for any brand to get their spot. You want your commercial to feel like a a part of the event, whether they're tuning in live, following the scores on Twitter or rewatching later on YouTube or Hulu.
These are the Top 10 Super Bowl Ads in History
We compiled a nice list to make you reminisce with these award-winning ads. Every commercial on this list has been very impactful in the whole country, that's why they made it into history:
10. McDonalds, "The Showdown" (1993)
9. Reebok, "Terry Tate, Office Linebacker" (2003)
8. Old Spice: "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" (2010)
7. Pepsi, "Gotta Have It" (1992)
6. Budweiser, "Wassup!" (2000)
5. Wendy's, "Where's the Beef?" (1984)
4. VW, "The Force" (2011)
3. Budweiser, "Clydesdale Respect" (2002)
2. Coca Cola, "Mean Joe Greene" (1980)
1. Apple, "1984" (1984)
What can we expect from Super Bowl LVIII?
On February 12 we will see a great match between Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with Rihanna headlining the first Apple Music Halftime Show, with this big enterprise as their newest sponsor.
Big brands around the country MUST take advantage of this moment to put their biggest advertisement campaigns out there, because it's going to be a guaranteed success in ROI.