Super Bowl ad rates

When Super Bowl I was played in Los Angeles in 1967, the game was broadcast (for the first and only time) on two networks: CBS and NBC. Back then, CBS was able to command $42,500 for a 30-second ad, while NBC offered a bargain rate of $37,500.

In the more than four decades since, things have changed a bit.

By 1995, the rate crept over the $1 million mark ($1,150,000) for the first time. This year, even with so much economic gloom and doom, NBC has been able to command $3 million for each 30 seconds and had sold all but two spots a few days before the game.

Here’s a list of how the cost of being part of Super Sunday has exploded between Super Bowl I and Super Bowl XLIII, based on what the broadcast rights holder was able to charge for a half-minute of advertising.

2009: $3,000,000

2008: $2,700,000

2007: $2,600,000

2006: $2,500,000

2005: $2,400,000

2004: $2,300,000

2003: $2,100,000

2002: $1,900,000

2001: $2,100,000

2000: $2,200,000

1999: $1,600,000

1998: $1,300,000

1997: $1,200,000

1996: $1,085,000

1995: $1,150,000

1994: $900,000

1993: $850,000

1992: $850,000

1991: $800,000

1990: $700,000

1989: $675,000

1988: $645,000

1987: $600,000

1986: $550,000

1985: $525,000

1984: $368,000

1983: $400,000

1982: $324,000

1981: $275,000

1980: $222,000

1979: $185,000

1978: $162,000

1977: $125,000

1976: $110,000

1975: $107,000

1974: $103,000

1973: $88,000

1972: $86,000

1971: $72,000

1970: $78,000

1969: $55,000

1968: $54,000

1967: $42,000

Source: Associated Press