Admeter: Super Bowl Ratings and Commercials

NBC's broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI marks the seventh straight year that their has been an increase in its audience. Just topping last years 111.0 million viewers this years big game between the Giants and Patriots delivered 111.3 million viewers. Neilsen ratings stated that among adults 18-49, the game garnered 40.5 rating.

Check out this top 5 list of the Most-Watched Programs in U.S. Television History and see how the big game really reigns supreme:

1. 111.3 Million - Super Bowl XLVI, NBC
2. 111.0 Million - Super Bowl XLV, FOX
3. 106.5 Million - Super Bowl XLIV, CBS
4. 106.0 Million - M.A.S.H. Finale, CBS
5. 98.7 Million - Super Bowl XLIII, NBC

These numbers have come a long way from the first Super Bowl ever that was seen by just over 24 million people and recorded a rating of 18.5.

With such a large number of people tuning in yearly for the big game it is no wonder why this sporting even over the years has become a mass-media event. Advertisements ran for $3.5 million for 30 seconds of air time during the game this Sunday. For $3.5 million you could have 583,333 six packs of beer for one kick-ass Super Bowl party!

When the Super Bowl just began in 1967 the average cost of a 30 second commercial was $40k. It was not until 1995 that the average cost of an ad had broke $1 million. Since then prices have increased by about $100K each year.

With a hefty price tag attached advertisers give it their all at creating an add that is going to create great buzz and chatter the next day in the news and at school and work. So what was your take on this years commercials? In my opinion the M&M "Just My Shell" commercial takes the number one spot on my best commercial list. It really had everything needed packed into 30 seconds to make it the most memorable one out of the pack: a household brand, a funny story that makes you laugh, and a catchy current well known song. 

Another approach at making commercials that people will love is by incorporating things that people love such as animals. This years USA Today top 10 most popular commercials go to show that those commercials that incorporated dogs really hit home and connected to many. Second on my list of favorite commercials was hands down the Bud Light "Here We Go" commercial. It had such a entertaining concept with a great punch to helping rescue dogs. 

USA Today Top 10 Most Popular Ads

1. Doritos - Dog bribes cat owner - 8.82
2. Volkswagen - Dog gets fit, Star Wars - 8.73
3. Sketchers - Dog in sneakers wins race - 8.57
4. Doritos - Baby grabs Doritos - 8.48
5. M&M/Mars - Introduces Ms. Brown - 8.47
6. Bud Light - Rescue Dog retrieves beer - 8.42
7. Hyundai - Cheetah won't race Veloster - 8.16
8. Honda - Ferris Buerller reprise - 8.11
9. CareerBuilder.com - Chimps on business trip - 7.94
10. Fiat - Seduction - 7.91

Doritos seems to have the right idea by hiring real people to create their ads and not ad agencies.  I think that allowing people to create in their own environment alone with little restrictions will produce commercials that connect with consumers better than those that are done by an ad agency that is analyzing ever aspect of the spot. The contest that Doritos holds each year for spot submissions defiantly is working as they have two commercials in the top 10 and one happens to be at the top of the list.

What commercial made it to the top of your list!?