GM says Super Bowl ads too expensive and bows out [View all]

[marmar]

DETROIT - For General Motors, the price isn't right when it comes to an ad during next year's Super Bowl.

The Detroit automaker said Friday that it won't be advertising on the Feb. 3 spectacle because of a steep price hike demanded by CBS, the network broadcasting the game.

"We understand the reach the Super Bowl provides, but with the significant increase in price, we simply can't justify the expense," GM marketing chief Joel Ewanick said in a statement.

A person with knowledge of advertising costs said Friday that CBS wants 25-to-30-percent more for air time than NBC charged during this year's game. Companies spent an average of $3.5 million for a 30-second commercial this year, meaning the increase would be at least $875,000 per ad. The person didn't want to be identified because the ad prices have not been made public. ...........(more)

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