This Year’s Super Bowl Commercials…Anti-Climatic?

The cost of advertising in the Super Bowl is rising, running an average of $4 million for a 30-second spot—up from $3.5 million last year and just $42,000 back in 1967. To justify the expense, advertisers aim to present fans with something more than just another entertaining but ultimately forgettable commercial. How do they plan on doing it? Here are a few of the ways: Longer Commercials The most talked-about ad from last year’s Super Bowl was Chrysler‘s “It’s Halftime in America” featuring Clint Eastwood.

The cost of advertising in the Super Bowl is rising, running an average of $4 million for a 30-second spot—up from $3.5 million last year and just $42,000 back in 1967. To justify the expense, advertisers aim to present fans with something more than just another entertaining but ultimately forgettable commercial. How do they plan on doing it? Here are a few of the ways: Longer Commercials The most talked-about ad from last year’s Super Bowl was Chrysler‘s “It’s Halftime in America” featuring Clint Eastwood.

(Carbon Arc)

A huge legal battle is brewing between Fox and Dish Network over Dish's "Hopper," which records entire primetime lineups and "instantly" skips TV ads.

Forget the days when you were totally surprised by the ads airing on Super Bowl Sunday. More than ever, companies are releasing ads weeks before the big game, often creating ad teasers (yes — that’s an ad for an ad) as part of a broader viral campaign. The reason? As TIME’s Brad Tuttle explained, releasing ads early can extend the lifespans of those staggeringly expensive Super Bowl ad spots, which this year are costing advertisers about $3.8 million per 30-second commercial. A number of ads are creating pre-game buzz and even mild controversy this year.

Forget the days when you were totally surprised by the ads airing on Super Bowl Sunday. More than ever, companies are releasing ads weeks before the big game, often creating ad teasers (yes — that’s an ad for an ad) as part of a broader viral campaign. The reason? As TIME’s Brad Tuttle explained, releasing ads early can extend the lifespans of those staggeringly expensive Super Bowl ad spots, which this year are costing advertisers about $3.8 million per 30-second commercial. A number of ads are creating pre-game buzz and even mild controversy this year.

It may be wishful thinking, given the source, but  a recent study of TV viewing habits offers some hope to networks and advertisers used to being on the losing end of any battle with new technology. It seems that there’s an unforeseen side effect when viewers watch TV while also using so-called “second screens” (i.e.

Super Bowl XLVII viewers won't be able to influence which team will win the Big Game on Feb. 3, but in at least two cases, they'll be able to make a call about the ending of Super Sunday commercials.