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2010 Super Bowl Commercials

In 2010, CBS set a new record when it attempted to sell Super Bowl spots for $3 million per 30-second commercial.

That was more than 10 percent higher than the average $2.7 million that Fox asked for in 2009.

So did major U.S. companies pay the new, exhorbitant amount for such short air time? And in a financial recession? You betcha.

Traditionally, the big game draws close to 100 million viewers, the biggest TV audience for any U.S. sporting event.

By August 2009 it was announced that CBS had already sold most of its inventory to CocaCola, Anheuser-Bush, and a number of big car companies, along with the mega-movie previews that have become the mainstays of any televised Super Bowl match.

2010 Super Bowl commercials

This year, as always, watch for the return of the popular Clydsdale horses to make an appearance as Bud debuts a total of 8 spots for Super Bowl audiences in 2010.

Meanwhile, GoDaddy fans won't be disappointed as the company's famous buxom babes return again in at least one 30-second spot featuring race car hottie Danica Patrick.

CareerBuilder is also making a splash in 2010 with interactive user-generated ads headed for Super Bowl glory — this following hot on the heels of a similar campaign launched last year by Dorito's.

Beside cars, jobs, beer and chips, the strongest advertisers remain the big Hollywood studios. So also look forward to sneak peaks at 2010 blockbusters. including February’s “Shutter Island,” May’s “Iron Man 2" and July’s “The Last Airbender."

Also watch for a splashy preview of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening in Spring 2010.

And what goes better with movies than popcorn? Watch for Diamond Foods to relaunch its Pop-Secret popcorn brand during the big game - with a splashy and fairly bizarre campaign depicting a family of animated corn kernels.

Sticking closely to the retro game plan, the vacation rental supersite HomeAway.com features Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo in a "National Lampoon’s Vacation" themed Super Bowl ad.

Super Bowl Commercials and Controversies

Weeks away from 2010 Super Bowl Sunday, one notable controversy this year sparked heated debate over a commercial featuring college football star Tim Tebow and his mom promoting the anti-abortion movement.

Then there was the gay dating site ad that was roundly rejected by the Super Bowl committee, followed by a string of other banned ads deemed too scandalous for Super Bowl viewing which, for all intents and purposes, were made for that reason alone. Times are hard. So why pay $3 million a minute when you can get air time for free?

More about Super Bowl ads around the Web:

Superbowl-Ads.com - Super Bowl commercial central, featuring related news and updates, archive of the best commercials dating back to 1998, and Top Ten collections of all time.

Using Super Bowl Ads in the Classroom - With lesson plans, news articles and streaming video clips.

Super Bowl advertising Wikipedia - Brief overview with a list of the most famous Super Bowl commercials, related links and resources.

also see -> SUPER BOWL 2010

also see in Pop Culture -> Great Moments in Advertising