It's the one TV event some people watch specifically for the commercials. We don't yet know who'll play in the Super Bowl, but it appears Fox is already the winner.
The network announced Wednesday its ad inventory for Super Bowl XLVIII is completely sold out — at a reported $4 million-plus per 30-second spot. Fox's sellout comes a month earlier than it did for CBS last year.
"This year's game being played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. And that broadcast expected to have room for 65 of those very expensive ad spots." (Via Fox Business)
Many of those spots will come from automakers. We've seen some memorable ones from that category over the years. (Via Volkswagen)
Then there are newcomers, such as Cheerios — a brand that today started a marketing push for its own commercial set to air during the big game.
CAMILLE GIBSON, GENERAL MILLS VP OF MARKETING: "Given that the brand so strongly stands for family love and connections, we just thought that this would be a great opportunity for us to share our story, share our Cheerios point of view about families." (Via General Mills)
Advertising Age notes the game isn't over for Fox when it comes to selling ads, though. Spots are still available in pre- and post-game coverage — but perhaps most notably in its digital inventory.
"This will be the first streaming Super Bowl for Fox, which will make the game available on FoxSports.com for free."
According to CBS, 10 million people live-streamed its Super Bowl coverage last year. Sports Illustrated reports that's a number Fox anticipates doubling in 2014.
