On February 12, Tremendous Bowl LVII will kick off in Arizona and if previous viewership numbers maintain up, over 110 million viewers may very well be tuning in.

Half soccer recreation, half media extravaganza, viewers anticipate the advertisements as a lot as they do the sport – to not point out the famed halftime present, typically one of many nation’s largest cultural occasions. For the primary time in 5 years, Rihanna will take the stage and a few of her 139 million Instagram followers will certainly be tuning in.

Come recreation time, People might be in entrance of a TV; able to eat, drink, and watch what must be the most important TV occasion of the 12 months. Utilizing our knowledge, we’ll information you thru what manufacturers have to know concerning the huge recreation, asking questions like:

• What number of shoppers plan to observe the sport and who’s almost definitely to?
• What recreation day behaviors might be prevalent this 12 months? 
• What themes ought to manufacturers look out for on this 12 months’s advertisements?
• What may Apple Music’s acquisition of the halftime present imply for the NFL?
• What’s the way forward for streaming and the Tremendous Bowl?
• Ought to manufacturers take note of worldwide markets sooner or later?

Now, let’s kick off!  

1. The Tremendous Bowl belongs on conventional TV – for now…

Over 60% of People plan to observe the Tremendous Bowl this 12 months. Amongst these watching dwell protection, virtually all say they’ll be watching through TV. 

NFL followers within the US sometimes skew older, so it strains up with what we see concerning viewing preferences. People are huge on broadcast, and older audiences usually desire the format. Broadcast TV remains to be sticky amongst youthful generations however that is slowly altering. Gen Z and millennials are much less prone to watch dwell protection, this doesn’t imply they aren’t following the Tremendous Bowl, nonetheless.

Gen Zs and millennials are 57% and 73% extra possible, respectively, to say they plan to make use of social media to get dwell updates concerning the recreation than the common American.

Manufacturers have a possibility to be seen always on social media, reasonably than simply industrial breaks like on TV.

Almost half of NFL followers will even be utilizing social media on a second display whereas they watch video games, and knowledge from final 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl exhibits spikes throughout well-liked advertisements and late within the recreation. 

2. Streaming companies are set to make a splash in dwell sports activities

With Amazon and Apple getting into the dwell sports activities sphere, and Google getting the rights for NFL Sunday Ticket to distribute on their YouTube TV product, streaming companies are making a significant problem to conventional TV suppliers. NFL followers already watch streaming companies barely greater than the common American, however their loyalties nonetheless lie with dwell TV, being 21% extra prone to watch it day by day. With streaming capturing extra dwell sports activities, nonetheless, we may see extra NFL followers change to streaming companies down the road.

Community TV has the Tremendous Bowl on lock for the subsequent 10 years, however this doesn’t imply that streaming companies received’t creep into the protection. There’s a world fanbase to consider too, so streaming is well-placed to accommodate these watching in nations the place the occasion isn’t broadcast dwell.

Furthermore, NFL followers need extra choices for his or her dwell occasion expertise and streaming companies are good locations to do that. NBC noticed success by providing extra digital camera choices and protection with their Olympics protection and ESPN affords the identical for school soccer. If streaming companies proceed to cowl extra dwell sports activities, followers could have extra choices for viewing experiences. The Tremendous Bowl – the crown jewel of American sports activities – is probably not available now, however streaming companies should seize greater audiences in time.

3. Viewers watching from residence may very well be a giant win for meals & beverage manufacturers

Many followers would like to be in attendance on the precise recreation, however with tickets beginning at round $5,000 watching from house is the extra economical choice.

House is by far the most well-liked place to observe NFL protection for People. Even when they aren’t watching at their very own place, likelihood is they’re at a pal or household’s as an alternative.

For a lot of, it’s a social event. Whether or not they’re internet hosting or attending a watch celebration, one factor is definite – followers will want meals. Widespread recreation day snacks might be flying off the racks at grocery shops, so it’s a simple alternative for shops to construct reliability and belief with shoppers by stocking up on the necessities.

Meals and alcohol supply will little question be well-liked choices too. 

Almost 4 in 10 NFL followers say they habitually order meals supply whereas they watch sports activities.

On Tremendous Bowl Sunday, that’s sure to be extra prevalent. Stats from previous Tremendous Bowls point out that apps/web sites like Doordash and UberEats will see a 65%+ improve in site visitors, whereas alcohol supply service, Drizzly, have additionally reported gross sales spikes. 

What could also be shocking is the low figures for these planning to observe in a public setting – equivalent to a bar or restaurant. Native bars all through the nation will possible run particular occasions for the massive recreation, making an attempt to influence followers to go away their properties and partake in discounted drinks and meals. The price of residing disaster has possible pushed shoppers away from costly bar tabs, and lingering COVID-19 fears may be at play. That’s no cause for companies to draw back from internet hosting watch events of their very own, nonetheless, they only must be conscious of shoppers’ issues proper now. It’d sound simple, however cheaper costs and cleaner venues may assist ease these issues.

4. A Tremendous Bowl TV advert is effective, however social media will be too 

Tremendous Bowl advertisements have turn out to be a phenomenon of their very own, and so they’re typically a harbinger of what’s to return within the subsequent 12 months.  In 2022, cryptocurrency was the main target of many advertisements and viewers shortly took an curiosity. 

It strains up with what our knowledge tells us about NFL followers on the whole. They’re extra tech savvy than the common American, so manufacturers shouldn’t fear about making an attempt some new issues like augmented actuality (AR) or QR codes. The latter can lead viewers to pages with extra data and sign-up choices. 

Primarily based on what our knowledge tells us about followers, advertisements this 12 months may have a extra inclusive and respectful tone to them. In comparison with This autumn 2021, NFL followers in Q3 2022 need manufacturers to be extra inclusive (+7%), respectful (+5%), daring (+5%), and genuine (+5%). NFL followers count on manufacturers to play an even bigger function in social accountability and a Tremendous Bowl advert can set the tone for these efforts. 

5. The halftime present is a chance for immersive experiences and extra media choices

Very like Tremendous Bowl advertisements, the halftime present additionally affords large potential for manufacturers to experiment with new applied sciences and social media campaigns – enhancing the viewing expertise past what occurs on the sector.

Final 12 months, when Pepsi sponsored the halftime present, they wished to make the most of the rising use of second screens. So, they launched an app that gave customers management over how they seen the present, with views from the stage or from the sector. Carmakers, Nissan and Kia, used Snapchat and TikTok to additional their engagement past TV commercials. 

This 12 months, Apple Music is sponsoring the 12-minute present. With Rhianna performing, the act ought to appeal to a large viewers – pop and RnB are each within the high 10 most most well-liked genres by NFL followers, and her five-year absence from the stage ought to carry a wave of nostalgia and mystique for die-hard followers and informal viewers alike.

We don’t know on the time of penning this weblog if a second display expertise might be supplied, however Apple has mentioned they’ll be “unveiling extra goodies… because the clock ticks nearer to the massive recreation.” 

The tech big has been tight-lipped about what these “goodies” entail, however the stage is ready for extra immersive experiences. In accordance with our knowledge, that’s precisely what younger followers need. Almost 7 in 10 Gen Z and millennial Tremendous Bowl viewers use social media once they watch TV, and so they’ll little question be sharing ideas concerning the present. TikTok and Meta each hosted immersive pregame and postgame experiences final outing, so it’s possible we’ll see related experiences once more this 12 months.

6. The Tremendous Bowl is not an solely American occasion

This 12 months, the NFL held its first recreation in Germany at Allianz Enviornment in Munich. When tickets went on sale, the 70,000-capacity stadium was shortly stuffed out,with hundreds on the waitlist. 

It was an enormous success for the NFL, which has made worldwide enlargement a key level beginning with internet hosting common season video games in London beginning in 2007 and Mexico Metropolis beginning in 2016. And with the Tremendous Bowl lower than a month away, maybe we’ll see robust viewership numbers abroad. 

Exterior of the US, curiosity within the NFL has gone up 26% since Q3 2018.

Likewise, the quantity who watch or comply with American soccer can also be ticking upwards – a +26% improve since Q3 2018. Whereas the kickoff time of 6:30 pm on the East Coast makes watching the sport dwell in Europe a bit troublesome, we are able to count on spotlight and replay views to be outstanding shortly after – as followers get up to see the scores and performs. Manufacturers who promote in these markets must be pushing internet and social media advertisements consequently.

Mexico is one market that ought to seize the eye of the NFL, TV networks, and types. It’s the second largest NFL market worldwide and doesn’t undergo from time variations that the European markets do. For manufacturers that will not have the advert spend for the Tremendous Bowl broadcast in America, Spanish-language channels and worldwide markets may very well be a worthwhile funding. ESPN airs the sport in Mexico together with a couple of different native channels. 

The ultimate drive: what you might want to know

As we strategy the top of the ultimate whistle, let’s do a fast recap on the NFL and TV’s huge day.

• A majority of People might be tuning into Tremendous Bowl LVII: Over 60% of People mentioned they’ll plan to observe dwell protection of the Tremendous Bowl this 12 months. Whereas youthful generations might skip out on dwell protection, they’ll possible be following on social media. 

• House is the place the snacks are: Most followers might be watching from residence or going to another person’s place to observe the sport. Grocery shops ought to refill on recreation day necessities, whereas meals and alcohol supply companies must be huge winners too. 

• Don’t be afraid to hyperlink tech with advertisements: NFL followers are tech savvy and excited to check out new tech. QR and AR have been huge gamers for the reason that pandemic, and they need to proceed to win this 12 months. Whereas TV advertisements attain the biggest viewers, social media advertisements will also be very precious. 

• Apple’s halftime present sponsorship is an indication of issues to return: Apple Music is the brand new sponsor of the famed halftime present. The tech big has additionally added MLB and MLS to their Apple TV+ choices, and misplaced bids for NFL video games to each Amazon and Google. With streaming giants getting into the dwell sports activities image, followers might have to reprioritize what their total TV bundle seems to be like to have the ability to catch their favourite groups. 

• The NFL is a world league: The NFL has seen success with internet hosting video games abroad. Europeans might be tuning into Tremendous Bowl dwell protection late at evening or watching highlights early the subsequent morning, however Mexico is a major marketplace for each the NFL and advertisers alike. With no time distinction, hundreds of thousands might be watching there and types who might not be capable of afford a Tremendous Bowl advert within the States may nonetheless get recognition within the second-largest NFL market.