From the Campaign family:
Nationwide catches flak for dark Super Bowl ad. "I couldn’t grow up because I died from an accident" wasn't a statement football fans were expecting to hear during the insurer's spot, and some wasted no time taking their displeasure to social media. (Pro tip: Be sure to check out the hilarity that's ensued under the hashtag #NationwideAMovie.)
Why TV isn't the only way to score at the Super Bowl (PRWeek). Some big brands sat out the game, making way for smaller players — and plenty of brands opted to use social and other digital channels instead of pricy television spots.
No More founders talk Super Bowl PSA (PRWeek). The campaign encourages bystanders to act when they’re aware of domestic violence. No More cofounders Jane Randel and Anne Glauber spoke with PRWeek about the significance of airing the chilling spot during the Super Bowl.
How #TailgateForOurTroops carried torch for Kingsford (PRWeek). Kingsford Charcoal and Current, its PR AOR, ran a campaign centered on tailgate parties to encourage consumers to continue grilling through football season. The campaign was tied to a donation to the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides scholarships and other educational needs assistance to the children and spouses of military members killed or disabled during active duty.
From around the web:
Where were the minority-owned ad agencies? NBC flags the dearth of diversity at the game to discuss challenges facing the industry at large. "There are only 161 black owned ad agencies in the United States according to the 2007 Survey of Business Owners," the story notes. "While that number has probably increased in the last eight years, there is a definite lack of representation in the ad world."
Facebook lured Super Bowl ad-watchers from YouTube. The social giant this year set its sights on YouTube's position as the go-to destination to see the spots. The social network, which last year was essentially a non-factor in Super Bowl ad viewing online, now makes up 35% of the views research firm iSpot.tv tracks.
Super Bowl no-shows that won the game. Time also noticed that a $4.5 million TV spot isn't the only way brands can score points from the Super Bowl. It features brands — including Foot Locker and Popeyes — that broke away from the TV pack. (References to "Malcolm in the Middle" also got a boost from the star turn by Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler.) It also dope-slapped Nationwide's dead-kid ad and noted the trending hashtag #NationwideKills.
Monster.com newsjacks with clever Super Bowl tweet. While it hasn't come back to the big game with a TV spot, the employment site managed to insert itself back into the conversation with a clever post-game tweet that advertises its services while poking fun at social media gaffes of events gone by.
How Chevy's ad freaked out America. Bloomberg writes about the reaction of Super Bowl viewers to the car brand's pre-game ad, which simulates a TV blackout.
Make Super Bowl ads from Lego! UK-based animation studio A+C Studios will re-create outstanding halftime commercials as a stop-motion animated film, using thousands of Lego bricks, in less than 36 hours.