What to expect from 2016 Super Bowl commercials

Ashton Baysden
Staff Writer

  From watching linebacker Terry Tate tackling businessmen to seeing a Budweiser Clydesdale finding its way back home, one of the public’s favorite features of the Super Bowl is the commercials, and this year is no exception. With a Super Bowl as big as Super Bowl 50, a corporate race has ensued to put out the most memorable commercials possible. According to Bradley Johnson of Advertising Age, “Ad spending for commercials during the game on Feb. 7's Super Bowl 50 broadcast on CBS will total a record $377 million, according to Ad Age Datacenter's estimate.” Johnson says that this year’s ad spending is more than what was spent on the Super Bowl during the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s combined, so expectations for this year’s ads are high.

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      Companies are trying various techniques to build excitement for their individual commercials. A few brands, such as Pokémon, have simply released their ads online for fans to watch before they air during the Super Bowl on Feb. 7. Other brands are leaving it up to the fans to decide; Doritos, a brand that has released several fan-favorite Super Bowl commercials in the past, is allowing viewers to vote on which of three ads will make an appearance during Super Bowl 50. However, other companies are taking the buildup a step further by releasing previews for their commercials. Bud Light dropped a preview for their Super Bowl ad, featuring comedians Seth Rogen and Amy Schumer, with the ominous title The Bud Light Party is Coming. This is just one of the many Super Bowl 50 commercials to feature a celebrity; Shock Top has also released a commercial to be featured during the Super Bowl, involving actor T.J. Miller engaged in an insult war with an orange. Miller is starring in the upcoming movie Deadpool, which is also rumored to have an ad running during this year’s Bowl.
      Although the buildup of excitement has already come so far, the Super Bowl is still a few days away. Hype surrounding the event will only continue to build as more companies release commercials, previews, and hints. Rumors will continue to fly as the date approaches, and the public will be able to watch these commercials and understand the hype during Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m. on CBS.