Do Super Bowl Ads Still Work? Yes, If You Sell Controversy (or Junk Food)

The Super Bowl XLIV advertising buzz began right on time this year, but not for the usual reasons. First came Focus on the Family, a conservative group planning to air a 30-second pro-life-advocacy commercial, starring young quarterback Tim Tebow. In the past, CBS (CBS) has shied away from running controversial advertising -- and when a gay dating site, Mancrunch.com, tried to buy airtime for a 30-second spot of its owned, CBS declined.