Superbowl Ads Sacked by the Economy

The television ad market in 2008 was buoyed by ad spend during the Olympics and in the lead up to the presidential election, but marquee events in 2009 aren't looking so dependable. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has already seen a drop in Superbowl ads due to the economic crisis, according to Reuters.

In a panel discussion, Goodell acknowledged that normally strong sales for the Superbowl have become disturbingly weak:

"The sales market is different than it was even several weeks ago. We see it primarily on a local level, which I think is through a large extent a reflection of what is happening in the automobile industry. But it has now in the recent weeks gone to the national level. It's had an impact. The fortunate thing is that it hasn't had an impact on our viewership."

Goodell did not give specific numbers and said that he believes numbers will stabilize in the short term, but long-term shifts in advertising strategies could be a concern "well beyond 2009."

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