There was a game being played in America on Sunday. No, not the one involving the Ravens and 49ers. It's between global brands and properties, as the ad breaks during the Super Bowl will see millions tune-in to see who made the cut - and what they have to sell, and say.
It is no secret that a 30 second spot during America's Game can set advertisers back millions of dollars before a single frame has been shot. And in the age of social media and mobile consumption, there is almost a Hollywood-style approach to marketing these adverts, with trailers running online weeks before the main event.
On average around 70 adverts screen over the course of the live broadcast in the US. Here is a list of the top 5.
1) Mercedes Benz
The German car giants trailed their Game Day offering for several weeks before the game. The new CLA will be the proverbial star, but supermodel Kate Upton has featured heavily in the buzz for the advert, which will also star Willem Dafoe and Usher.
2) Budweiser
Bud will be opening the game breaks with a spot for a new beer, but the buzz is for what was bound to be a tear-jerking advert featuring a newborn Clydesdale foal and its stable hand. Bud have long advertised with horses, but this was expected to get a strong reaction from viewers.
3) Volkswagen
Another German car giant, VW still hold cumulated viewing records for their Super Bowl advert in 2011. Last year they had audiences in raptures, riffing on dogs and Star Wars. This year's effort is eagerly awaited, not least due to some of negative press received around stereotypes of Jamaicans.
4) Paramount Farms
This is being billed as either Psy's big break in America, or the very last hurrah for Gangnam Style. Little was known about the spot beyond the fact that the South Korean star will be promoting Paramount's Wonderful Pistachios brand, and may well engage in some of his famous horseplay.
5) Fiat
Another car giant, Fiat will hope to trade on Latin stereotypes after the success of last year's effort promoting the 500. Like several advertisers, they are crowd-sourcing to choose the eventual spot.
