Super Bowl 2010 Ads – HMC, UL, BUD, MOT, DPS, KO Are In, PEP Is Out

About a hundred million people tune into the Super Bowl, creating an opportunity that no advertiser dares to miss. Companies from across various industries use this forum to launch new products, create further demand for their existing products and build their brand image. In fact, good ads during the Super Bowl create an instant brand buzz.

Here are some statistics related to advertising during Super Bowl 2010

Super Bowl 2010 advertisements are priced between $2.5 million and $2.8 million.
The price is for a 30-second spot.
2010 is the first year since 1996 that the average price for an ad has declined from the previous year’s figure.
About 30 companies will run ads during Super Bowl XLIV.
The Super Bowl over the last twenty years has generated $2.17 billion in network sales.

CBS Corp (NYSE: CBS) sells Super Bowl ad inventory for about six months at various prices. The price of a 30-second spot depends on how early the ad is purchased, when the ad is aired and the total ad time being purchased.

Among the companies that are making the most of the 100 million-strong audience are Audi, Hyundai, Honda (NYSE: HMC), Unilever (NYSE: UL), Anheuser-Busch (NYSE: BUD), Motorola (NYSE: MOT) and Dr Pepper (NYSE: DPS). Having poured millions of dollars into advertising during the Super Bowl for 23 straight years, Pepsi (NYSE: PEP) will be passing up the opportunity this year. Why? PEP wants to focus on its social media campaign to promote its "Pepsi Refresh" initiative. Archrival Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) has already bought 2 60-second ads - one will appear in the first quarter of the game and the other in the third quarter. Audi has purchased a 60-second spot in the fourth quarter to promote its Audi A3 TDI, which is positioned as the "Green Car of the Year." UL would be promoting its Dove Men Care.