Super Bowl XLIII, an American football game that will decide the NFL champion for the 2008 season, is scheduled to be played on February 1, 2009.

This years contenders for the title are Pittsburg Steelers and Arizone Cardinals. From a marketing perspective it is interesting that Super Bowl XLIII will also mark the first time that a 30-second commercial time slot will cost (excluding production and talent costs) US $3 million. Once again (certain) advertisers are competing to create the most memorable commercial to be shown to millions of viewers.

Commercials banned or not

Super Bowl XLIII will also mark the first time that a 30-second commercial time slot will cost (excluding production and talent costs) US $3 million.

Many traditional advertisers of the game, such as Anheuser-Busch and Pepsi-Cola, are buying multiple ads at discounted rates. Two traditional advertisers, General Motors and FedEx, will pass on the game, citing the current economic crisis as their main reason. Doritos is reprising a contest for a fan-created ad run two years ago, but with a top prize of $1 million provided it wins the USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter’s number one position.  Paramount Pictures confirmed that a preview of the upcoming Star Trek film will also premiere during the game.

Interestingly, every year commercials are banned. And this year is no exception.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) with more than two million members and supporters, is the largest animal rights organization in the world. And they are having a go at passing the NBC censorship. Without much luck, it seems.

This video was rejected by NBC censorship:

Here’s an excerpt from PETA’s website;

“Apparently, NBC has something against girls who love their veggies. After we submitted our proposed Super Bowl ad, which features a comely crop of models demonstrating their fondness for fresh produce, NBC nixed the ad, saying it “depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards.” No joke, this is straight from NBC—so stop fondling your fruit salad right now and read the list of shots NBC requested we cut before they’d reconsider”

And here is another PETA commercial rejected by NBC

And here is the list. When reading that list one would understand why NBC rejected the commecial:

• licking pumpkin
• touching her breast with her hand while eating broccoli
• pumpkin from behind between legs
• rubbing pelvic region with pumpkin
• screwing herself with broccoli (fuzzy)
• asparagus on her lap appearing as if it is ready to be inserted into vagina
• licking eggplant
• rubbing asparagus on breast

I have to agree with PETA’s statement, though;

“Why so grouchy NBC? Sounds like someone’s not getting enough um…vegetables. I’m thinking network execs could really benefit from a broccoli booty call.”

More banned commercials at Marketingboss TV