TO: NEWS PRODUCERS, ASSIGNMENT EDITORS
MultiVu Video Feed: USA TODAY SUPER BOWL AD METER RATINGS
SATELLITE FEEDS:
Monday, February 7th, 2011Monday, February 7th, 2011Monday, February 7th, 2011
3:30 AM – 3:45 AM ET10:30 AM – 10:45 AM ET1:30 PM – 1:45 PM ET
Galaxy 19Galaxy 19Galaxy 19
Transponder 10Transponder 10Transponder 10
C-BandC-BandC-Band
Downlink Freq: 3900HorizontalDownlink Freq: 3900 HorizontalDownlink Freq: 3900 Horizontal
NEWS:USA TODAY Reveals the Winners of This Year’s Ad Meter Ratings
FORMAT: B-roll and Soundbites
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Video, hard copy requests, downloadable MPEG2, contact information and more available at
STORY SUMMARY:
When Super Bowl XLV airs across the country on February 6thmillions of Americans will be tuning in for the game…and the commercials. For ten years running, Anheuser-Busch topped USATODAY’s Ad Meter, until 2009 when two amateur filmmakers’ spot for Frito-Lay Doritos took top honors. Then last year, another first-time winner, Mars-Snickers, won for their Betty White and Abe Vigoda spot
The results are based on volunteers who chart their second-by-second reactions to national Super Bowl commercials. Volunteers use hand-held meters to register how much they liked or disliked an ad while a computer averages the scores continuously. USA TODAY created the Super Bowl Ad Meter in 1989 to gauge consumers' opinions about TV's most expensive commercials.
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
2010 – Mars-Snickers: Betty White and Abe Vigoda in casual football game - 8.68
2009 – Frito-Lay Doritos: Crystal ball sees free Doritos – 8.46
2008 - Anheuser-Busch: Dalmatian trains Clydesdale to make beer wagon team – 8.73
2007 - Anheuser-Busch: Crabs worship a cooler of Budweiser on the beach - 8.56
2006 - Anheuser-Busch: Secret refrigerator stocked with Bud Light -- 8.39
2005 - Anheuser-Busch: Pilot Jumps from Plane to Catch Bud Light – 8.65
2004 - Anheuser-Busch: Dogs Fetch Bud Light – 9.04
2003 - Anheuser-Busch: Replay - 8.99
2002 - Anheuser-Busch: Satin Sheets - 9.11
2001 - Anheuser-Busch: Cedric's dream date - 8.63
2000 - Anheuser-Busch: Rex the Dog recalls his worst day - 8.09
1999 - Anheuser-Busch: Separated at Birth - 8.01
1998 - Pepsi: Flying Geese - 9.08
1997 - Pepsi: Dancing bears - 8.22
1996 - Pepsi: On security camera, Coke driver nabs Pepsi - 9.42
1995 - Pepsi: Boy gets sucked into bottle - 9.66
1994 - Pepsi: Chimp escapes lab, hits the beach - 9.34
1993 - McDonald's: Jordan and Bird shoot hoops - 9.00
1992 - Nike: Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan team - 8.51
1991 - Diet Pepsi: Ray Charles' new jingle catches on - 8.52
1990 - Nike: Famous announcers call imaginary game - 8.17
1989 - American Express: Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz - 7.52.
SOUNDBITES:
Bruce Horovitz – USA TODAY advertising and marketing reporter
Ad Meter participants
B-ROLL INCLUDES:*** Ad Meter participants watching the Super Bowl commercials and using their hand held meters to record reactions ***
VIDEO PROVIDED BY: USA TODAY