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Fans rate Superbowl ads on-line
29-01-2001
by
Microsoft and AdCritic.com have launched a site to let viewers rate the best and worst Superbowl advertisements.
The site, which is available at http://superbowl.adcritic.com/wm/by_quarter.html, has used the beta version of Windows Media Video 8, to post all Super Bowl advertisements, giving viewers a chance view each ad and rate it on a scale from best to worst.
Of the 38 ads available to view, only three of those advertise dot.com companies: job sites Monster.com and Hotjobs.com and the on-line investment resource E-trade. E-trade, whose ad has been ranked in the top 10 of Superbowl ads by viewers, actually used its spot to focus on the reversal of fortunes for dot.com firms.
The ad, entitled "Dot.com Graveyard", is set against the backdrop of a Western-style town, where a chimp rides through on horseback. The town is deserted, complete with tumbleweeds blowing and Western movie music, and all the buildings on view in the town are derelict dot.com companies, with signs creaking in the breeze. The ad concludes with the tearful chimp riding away, and the slogan "Invest Wisely".
The ads can be seen in near-VHS-quality video. Viewers can rate them on a scale of one to 10 by clicking on one of the numbers provided. Already almost 47,000 votes have been cast. The top ten is dominated by Budweiser and Pepsi ads, with three and two of each appearing respectively.
Adcritic.com provides archives of more than 1,700 TV ads and also provides services such as focus groups, industry information, demographics and analysis.
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