Super Bowl LIV (54) kicks off Sunday and after weeks of non-stop media hype and buildup with the San Francisco 49ers facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs. Showcasing some of the NFL’s biggest young stars, the broadcast will of course be packed with large budget commercials from the world’s biggest brands, all paying millions of dollars for just seconds of advertising during commercial space.
Even with the amount of cable subscribers on the decline, each year the NFL puts out a show that continues to break viewership records and keep advertising revenue growing. According to Nielsen, Super Bowl broadcasts hold 19 out of the 20 most watched broadcasts by viewership spots! The only other show that is on that list, at number 9 was the M*A*S*H finale show that aired in 1983. With the amount of hype around this year’s game, there is little doubt that will be knocked down to the number 10 spot.
In 2018, the Super Bowl set a 30-Second ad cost record (up 96% over the previous decade). It’s no secret that the marketing teams of these world class brands are ready to take advantage of the massive worldwide viewership and are willing to pay top dollar year after year to get their message out in front of them.
Here are 10 advertising, branding and audience facts about Super Bowl LIV:
- In 2018, an estimated 98 million people watched Super Bowl LIII matching the New England Patriots vs the Los Angeles Rams – and that didn’t even crack the top 10 most watched broadcasts!
- While 98 million people were glued to their seat for last year’s game, estimates state that as many as 149 million people caught at least some of the game last year.
- In 2019, over $336 million was spent on Super Bowl commercial advertising!
- The average cost of a 30-second ad during last year’s Super Bowl was $5.6 million.
- Commercial ad prices have nearly doubled over the past decade and there is no sign of slowing down.
- Ad time sells for around $175,000 per second, which much higher than any other event on the planet.
- The cost of a commercial spot during the football season is closer to 9x lower than that of a Super Bowl ad.
- The length of time spent on Super Bowl ads over the past few years has averaged about 49 – 51 minutes over the course of the entire broadcast.
- A few of the largest advertisers included Anheuser-Busch, Amazon, Alphabet, Deutsche Telecom, and Toyota.
- Some of the biggest spending industries included food, automotive, and movies/entertainment.
In what has become an annual tradition in itself, audiences will tune in to see these much-anticipated commercials and when they play during the broadcast. With all the money advertisers are spending, there is still a game to be played.
This year’s matchup, Super Bowl LIV (54), is expected to be an exciting one for fans of both teams and the rest of the NFL:
- The Kansas City Chiefs haven’t appeared in the Super Bowl since 1970.
- The San Francisco 49ers have won the Super Bowl 5 times. If they win this year, they’ll join the likes of the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers with 6 wins each!
- Tickets for the game in 2018 ranged from $950 – $5,000, with even higher prices on ticket resale sites.
- The game kicks off at 6:30pm EST, with Demi Lovato singing the national anthem and Shakira and Jennifer Lopez taking the stage around 8pm to perform the Super Bowl halftime show.
This year, Super Bowl LIV will be aired by Fox with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Myers and Mike Pereira in the booth. Fox has announced they will show the game in 4k Ultra High Definition so not only the game, but the commercials will also benefit from the upgraded HD broadcast.
Whether you’re tuning in for the game, the commercials or both, one team and many companies (including the NFL) will be celebrating after the last whistle blows.
How to Watch Super Bowl LIV:
- When: Sunday, February 2
- Kickoff time: 6:3pm. ET; coverage begins at 12pm. ET
- Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
- TV Channel: FOX
- Live stream: Fox Sports website, FOX Sports app
- Radio: Westwood One
Whether you’re tuning in for the game, the commercials or both, one team and many advertisers (including the NFL) will be celebrating long after the last whistle blows and the Lombardi Trophy is hoisted high in the air.
