Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercials have ALWAYS attracted attention, whether you like them or not.

There’s been the “Bud Bowl” . . . the “Bud-Weis-Er” frogs . . . the Clydesdales . . . the sentimental animal commercials . . . and their recent attempts to tackle bigger issues, like immigration.

Well, there won’t be ANY Budweiser ads this year.

For the first time in 37 years, Budweiser won’t advertise during the Super Bowl.  Instead, they’re taking the money they WOULD HAVE spent on a commercial and using it for FOR GOOD.

They say they’llbe “raising awareness” for the COVID-19 vaccine, but the details are a little vague.

They’re donating some of their air-time throughout 2021 to a, quote, “coalition of experts in health, education, and the economy.”  It doesn’t sound like that includes any previously purchased airtime during the Super Bowl, though.

And while it does sound like a nice gesture to reallocate the money for RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE Super Bowl ads, it’s kind of a publicity stunt.

Budweiser has put out a 90-second, feel good ad on its digital platforms, which hypes their decision.  This could have been their Super Bowl ad.  It’s already been seen a TON of times on YouTube and their social media accounts.  (Here it is.)

And get this:  Anheuser-Busch still has four minutes of advertising time during the game, which it’s expected to use for its other brands including Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer.

Coca-Cola, Hyundai, Audi, Avocados from Mexico, and Pepsi have also announced that they’re skipping this year’s Super Bowl because of COVID-19, although Pepsi is still sponsoring the Halftime Show, and they’re also advertising their other brands, including Mountain Dew and Frito-Lay.

So will this exodus signal a drop in the cost of ad-time?  Uh, no.  According to reports, the cost of a 30-second slot is more expensive than ever this year, at about $5.6 million per spot.

(USA Today, Hollywood Reporter)