One of the more interesting phenomena to arise in televised sports is the fact that many people tune in to the Super Bowl not so much to watch the game, but to watch the ads. The commercials that air during the game – many for the very first time – generate almost as much hype and interest as the action on the field. This year’s game, Super Bowl XLIV, was the most watched program in television history, besting the 27-year old record held by the final episode of M*A*S*H. This is a remarkable accomplishment, especially considering that viewers in 2010 have many more programming options available to them than did viewers in 1983. The Super Bowl is much more than a championship football game, it has become a cultural event. Because of this, Super Bowl ads are often very good indicators of where American culture is as a whole.
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