The real reason we're tuning in: Budweiser, Kia and Audi fork out up to $12m in bid to win the battle of the Super Bowl ads

  • Approximately 110 million people tuned in to watch Super Bowl LI 
  • The average cost of a 30-second ad this year is $5million, up from $4.8 last year
  • Some companies paid upwards of $12million all in for the opportunity to advertise during the Super Bowl 
  • The majority are light-hearted, some use the time to discuss important issues such as gender equality and immigration
  • This year's batch features many celebrity and professional athlete cameos 

Perhaps an even more competitive game than the one played between the Falcons and the Patriots in Super Bowl LI is the one between advertisers on who has the best commercial.

The latest numbers show that approximately 110 million people tuned in to watch the game.  

According to the New York Times, the average cost of a 30-second ad during the Super Bowl is $5million, up from $4.8 in last year's game.

Companies, like Budwiser, that marketed their ads before the game paid an extra 25 per cent. So in all, some companies are reportedly spending upwards of $12million for the opportunity to advertise during the Super Bowl. 

The game within a game that is putting an advertisement during the Super Bowl is a risky one, as there is a good risk of a company's commercial going completely forgotten, or even worse getting a negative reaction. 

However, some companies, such as Coca Cola or Budwiser are taking that risk, by using their multi-million dollar advertisement slot to speak out against President Trump's stance on immigration.

Here's a rundown of the night's advertisements:  

Budweiser's new Super Bowl ad tells the story of when its co-founder, Adolphus Busch, traveled to the US as an immigrant in 1857

Budweiser's ad featuring the story of its immigrant co-founder grabbed some pre-game attention.

The ad chronicles the story of Adolphus Busch's journey in the 1850s from Germany to the U.S., where locals tell him he should 'go back home' and that he doesn't 'look like you're from around here.' The 60-second spot was pre-released last week, just days after President Trump's order temporarily banning refugees and nearly all citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Anheuser-Busch said the ad isn't meant to be political, and that it started work on the spot in May.

Still, Budweiser vice president Richard Marques acknowledged it would be 'foolish' to think the current political environment isn't fueling attention for the ad. Marques added that Budweiser as a beer brand is inherently bipartisan.  

Coke also made a statement about political climate early on with an ad that celebrates the country's diversity.

The ad first aired during Super Bowl 2014, and provoked anger in some corners because it featured 'America the Beautiful' sung in different languages and a shot of gay parents. Coke notes that it has continued to run the 'It's Beautiful' ad during major TV events, and says it 'makes sense' to air it before the Super Bowl this year.

Coke isn't alone with its message about inclusion. An NFL ad during the second half will also focus on the game's power to unite people no matter their background.

Meanwhile, the Coke ads that ran throughout the rest of the game generated little conversation, as they focus on things like promoting the soda as a good pairing with food. 

The Avocados from Mexico advertisements drummed up some controversy, though many assert that the ad has nothing to do with President Trump

The Avocados from Mexico advertisements drummed up some controversy, though many assert that the ad has nothing to do with President Trump. 

T-Mobile's first ad of the night caught a lot of people's attention.

It showed pop star Justin Bieber narrating a mock history of end zone celebrations and features Rob 'Gronk' Gronkowski and Terrell Owens. 

In a powerful nod to women's equality, Audi started the second half with a powerful video about the discrimination against women.

T-Mobile's first ad of the night caught a lot of people's attention. It showed pop star Justin Bieber narrating a mock history of end zone celebrations and features Rob 'Gronk' Gronkowski and Terrell Owens

Audi directed a powerful video about discrimination against women

Snickers generated buzz before the game by saying it planned to air a live ad starring Adam Driver from 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' and the TV show 'Girls.'

In the ad that aired, a set that falls apart - on purpose - during a Wild West live spot with Driver.

'You ruin live Super Bowl commercials when you're hungry,' the copy reads on screen.

The ad made a point of mocking itself, and the Twitter account for corporate sibling Skittles, which is also owned by Mars Inc., seemed in on the joke. Skittles tweeted that, 'it's okay, you still had a good try! I'll throw some Skittles at your window for you!'

The second part of the comment was a reference to a Skittles ad that aired earlier in the game, in which a guy threw the colorful candies at a window. Inside the home, the object of his affections, her family members and others took turns catching the candies in their mouths.

Air BnB had perhaps the most provocative ad of the night, with a commercial showing many different faces that said they don't care 'who you are, or who you worship.'  

Air BnB had perhaps the most provocative ad of the night, with a commercial showing many different faces that said they don't care 'who you are, or who you worship' 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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