Thursday, November 5, 2026

Super Bowl Ads Almost Gone, And Training Camp Hasn’t Started

  • NFL stands out even more amid a weakened TV ad market.
  • Title game represents a safe haven amid ongoing tandem strike by Hollywood actors and writers.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

NFL training camps don’t open until later this week, but Super Bowl LVIII is already a hot seller for CBS Sports.

Nearly seven months before the Feb. 11 game in Las Vegas, the network has reportedly sold a “significant” amount of ad inventory, with industry estimates pointing to at least 70% of available spots now gone. 

Rates have also roughly held from the $6 million to $7 million range per 30 seconds seen for the 2023 clash between Kansas City and Philadelphia.

Last year, Fox Sports sold 95% of available ads for Super Bowl LVII by September, while NBC Sports was also virtually sold out of ad inventory for Super Bowl LVI by the start of the 2021 season. But CBS Sports’ results are arguably even more impressive given the July timing, broader weakness in the TV ad market, and lingering concerns about a potential U.S. economic recession.

NFL games represented 82 of the 100 most-watched television broadcasts in the U.S. last year, regardless of genre — a staggering figure beating the league’s 2021 record (75).

Las Vegas hosts the Super Bowl for the first time at the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium, an opportunity to draw even more attention to the city’s rising reputation as a sports mecca.

Super Bowl LVIII additionally represents a safe haven for advertisers amid the ongoing tandem strike by Hollywood actors and writers, which has effectively shut down film and television production.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Is the Lamar Jackson Era Over in Baltimore?

Jackson’s contract situation hangs over the franchise.
Sep 9, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) is introduced to the crowd before the game against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Brandon Aiyuk’s NFL Reinstatement Bid Could Force 49ers’ Hand

San Francisco may soon have to decide the receiver’s future.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

11/5/26 – Owners’ $100M Midterm Miss, College Sports Bill’s Uncertain Future, Peyton Tops ‘MNF’ List

0:00

Featured Today

Pickering High School North

High School Athletic Directors Say They’re Running ‘Mini Colleges’

ADs are managing a growing list of demands from athletes and parents.
October 30, 2026

How Injuries Hit Pro Marathoners in the Wallet

Staying healthy can get expensive—quickly.
Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match
October 21, 2026

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
ESPN analyst Pat McAfee broadcasts live from the sidelines of Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA prior to the start of the Pittsburgh Panthers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish game on November 15, 2025.
Opinion

How Did Pat McAfee Get So Polarizing?

Some of the criticism is self-inflicted. Some of it is unfair.
Oct 31, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries players hold the trophy after winning the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center
November 3, 2026

WNBA Finals Game 7 Draws 3.3M Viewers

The series averaged nearly 1.9 million viewers, the most for a Finals.
November 4, 2026

College Football TV Ratings Remain Down 11% Through October

Four games total have drawn an audience of 10 million or higher.
Sponsored

How Jeremy Bloom Is Reinventing the X Games

Jeremy Bloom discusses transforming the X Games into a global brand.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Exclusive
November 3, 2026

ESPN Hires The Athletic Editorial Director Sergio Gonzalez

The move comes three months after ESPN eliminated Roxanna Scott’s editor-in-chief role.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) talks to CW sports after the game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, November 22, 2025.
First at FOS
November 3, 2026

The CW Eyes TNT Sports Rights and More CFP Games

TNT Sports’s portfolio includes the NHL, MLB, and French Open.
Jul 11, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; ESPN reporter Michael Wilbon prior to the Phoenix Suns against the Milwaukee Bucks in game three of the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
November 2, 2026

Michael Wilbon Takes Indefinite Leave From ESPN, PTI for Health Reasons

The longtime “PTI” cohost insists he’s not retiring.
February 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; TNT broadcaster Ernie Johnson Jr. after the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 2, 2026

Ernie Johnson Wants NBA to Cut Regular Season Below 82 Games

The TNT Sports host specifically pointed to the Thunder’s recent injuries.