As the debate rages on about the high cost of advertising during the Super Bowl, one thing is certain: big bucks are being spent in attempt to reach the growing audiences and big spenders tuning in on game day, according to Nielsen. With advertisers spending nearly $4 million on a 30-second spot last year (nearly 50 times more than the average primetime spot!)—a figure that will likely rise for Super Bowl XLVIII—Nielsen reveals the companies and categories that have made the most sizeable investment on ads that aired during the past five Super Bowls.
| Brand | Dollars Spent 2009-2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ANHEUSER-BUSCH | $149 M | ||
| PEPSICO INC. | $97 M | ||
| COCA-COLA CO. | $62 M | ||
| VOLKSWAGEN | $57 M | ||
| FIAT SPA. | $55 M | ||
| GENERAL MOTORS CO. | $43 M | ||
| WALT DISNEY CO. | $40 M | ||
| HYUNDAI MOTOR CO. | $39 M | ||
| COMCAST CORP. | $37 M | ||
| NATL AMUSEMENTS INC. | $35 M | ||
Read as: Anheuser-Busch was the top parent company based on ad spend during the past five Super Bowls with $149 million advertising dollars spent. |
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There’s something to be said about these top spenders and their ad performance. Ads from Pepsi, Coca Cola, Volkswagen and GM have all earned top spots based on likeability, memorability, or both, of past Super Bowls, and Anheuser Busch was among the top ranked for several years. Despite some naysayers, if the execution and creative is strong, the payoff can be tremendous.
| Category | Dollars Spent 2009-2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| AUTO | $298 M | ||
| BEER | $149 M | ||
| MOTION PICTURE | $130 M | ||
| REG SOFT DRINK | $89 M | ||
| TORTILLA CHIPS | $42 M | ||
Read as: Automotive was the top product category based on ad spend during the past five Super Bowls with $298 million advertising dollars spent. |
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