NBC fetches $6.5 m for Super Bowl ads, nearly sells out Beijing Olympics spots

Comcast-owned NBCUniversal has recently sold 30-second ads for Super Bowl LVI for a record $6.5 million, and has nearly sold out advertising slots for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics, a company executive said on Wednesday.

Click here to read the story at reuters.com.

Discussion Questions:

1. According to this story, are Super Bowl ads more expensive this year than last year?
2. How might that represent an example of industry growth?
3. What are broadcast rights?
4. Why would NBC pay for broadcast rights to the Super Bowl and Olympic Games?
5. What are ratings?
6. Why are ratings important to the NFL?
7. Why are ratings important to broadcast companies like NBC?
8. What is advertising?
9. Why do companies advertise?
10. Why would a company pay $6.5 billion for a :30 ad during the Super Bowl?
11. Why do you think NBC is already nearly sold out of its Super Bowl and Beijing Olympics inventory?
12. Why do you think NBC is intentially leaving some inventory unsold for now?