• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 14, 2025

The Rise in the Cost of a Super Bowl Commercial

  • Since first Super Bowl, ad prices have increased 16,371% percent.
  • NBC generated $578 million in-game revenue in 2022.
Super Bowl
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl Sunday has become an unofficial national holiday in the United States. Football fans — casual or die-hard gather around the television with their favorite foods and snacks – and check out the commercials.

Since the first Super Bowl in 1967, the game has grown exponentially and become a gold mine for potential advertisers. 

Besides the game’s enormous reach, it’s the one day of the year when advertisers are guaranteed consumers will watch their commercials. Many casual fans watch more for the funny, celebrity-filled spots than the football. 

Over the years, Super Bowl commercials have become one of the most highly anticipated parts of a Super Bowl broadcast. In today’s fragmented media environment, advertisers take advantage of having the exclusive attention of potentially over 100 million viewers. Companies try their best to be one of the most remembered, but some companies flop in their effort to reach consumers.

The first 30-second ad for Super Bowl I between the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs cost $42,500. With inflation adjustments, it would have cost $372,390.34.

Rising Costs

Super Bowl in-game ad spots first cracked the $1 million mark in 1995. Last year, brand marketers paid a record $7 million ($233,333 per second) for in-game spots during Fox Sports’ telecast of Super Bowl 57.

That’s just for airtime. It doesn’t count the millions in production costs or the big-money fees paid to top directors.

The broadcast networks are smiling at the bank. Last year’s Super Bowl between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams (98.18 million viewers) generated over $578 million in in-game commercial revenue for NBC, according to research firm Kantar  — an excellent return on investment for the networks and their combined 11-year, $110 billion media rights deal, completed in 2021.

Commercial Cost Over Years

YearCostToday’s Cost*
1967$42,500$372,390.34
1970$78,000$588,327.06
1975$107,000$582,046.19
1980$222,000$788,463.71
1985$525,000$1,427,917.05 million
1990$700,000$1,567,394.80 million
1995$1.2 million$2,304,370.08 million
2000$2 million$3,399,012.78 million
2005$2.4 million$3,718,221.28 million
2010$3 million$4,026,328.10 million
2015$4.25 million$5,247,656.29 million
2021$5.5 million$5,940,150.20 million
2022$6.5 million
2023$7 million
2024$7 million
*Inflation adjustment based on December 2022

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Browns, Cleveland Reach $100M Deal to Clear Team’s Move to Suburbs

The surprise truce includes financial payments and the dismissal of lawsuits.

Titans Turnover: Brian Callahan Firing Adds to Pattern of Instability

Tennessee fired coach Brian Callahan six games into his second season.

Mark Sanchez Breaks Silence Following Arrest, Hospitalization

Fallout from the Fox analyst’s violent incident continues.
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Recording artist Kendrick Lamar performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Ceasars Superdome.

Judge Dismisses Drake’s Super Bowl Defamation Suit

The judge said diss tracks aren’t considered facts.

Featured Today

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Sep 5, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia embraces after their match in the semifinal of the men’s singles at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Six Kings Slam Returns With Record $6M Prize, Netflix Deal

The Six Kings Slam is held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Aces
October 10, 2025

WNBA Finals Most Viewed In 25 Years Despite Possible Aces Sweep

Games 2 and 3 have averaged more than 1.2 million viewers.
Mar 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the NBA logo and NBA app logo and basketballs in front of the base during warms up before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Suns at the American Airlines Center.
October 13, 2025

NBA Will Take Over League Pass After WBD Divorce

The league now has full operational control of those media assets.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Spectrum
October 10, 2025

ESPN Streaming Service at Core of New Spectrum Plan

The No. 1 U.S. distributor further blends linear and streaming TV.
exclusive
October 10, 2025

Alyssa Lang Joins ESPN NBA Sideline Reporter Ranks

Lang has been a host and reporter for ESPN and SEC Network since 2018.
Oregon Ducks inside linebacker Will Straton celebrates a stop as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers Sept. 20, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
October 9, 2025

CBS Eyes Breakthrough As Big Ten Ratings Still Lag Behind SEC

The network will air No. 7 Indiana at No. 3 Oregon on Saturday.
Netflix
October 9, 2025

Netflix Claims Bigger NFL Package ‘Doesn’t Really Fit’ Sports Strategy

Roger Goodell has signaled media-rights conversations could restart next year.