Information content of Super Bowl commercials 2001–2009

Using Resnik and Stern's (1997) method, this study examines the information content of the ads embedded in the telecasts of the largest sporting event in the United States, Super Bowl. The findings of a content analysis of over 400 Super Bowl ads aired from 2001 to 2009 show that each ad contained on an average two informational cues, which are as much informative as other television ads in the United States. The packaging or shape, quality, and performance cues are the three most frequently used informational cues. In addition, think products appeared to contain a more diverse set of informational cues compared to feel products. Practical and theoretical implications and future research directions are discussed.