Hyundai 'First Date' Wins 28th Annual USA TODAY Ad Meter

Hyundai “First Date” was ranked the top commercial in the 28th annual USA TODAY Ad Meter, the most widely recognized barometer and industry-leading tool used to measure public opinion surrounding Super Bowl advertising. The winning spot starred comedian Kevin Hart, helping Hyundai take their first ever USA TODAY Ad Meter win.

More than 19,000 panelists from across the country voted on Super Bowl commercials in this year’s USA TODAY Ad Meter, an increase of more than 183% percent from 2015. Participants could register through the end of regulation playing time of the Super Bowl on a mobile and social friendly platform, similar to USA TODAY Sports’ popular For The Win. Panelists voted on every national ad that aired immediately following the coin toss through the end of regulation, giving each ad a numerical score, from 0-10, via a password-protected website. The winning ad was determined by the highest average score.

The top five ads, as voted upon by this year’s Ad Meter panel, including final ratings are:

• 1- Hyundai “First Date” – 6.91
• 2- Heinz “Weiner Stampede” – 6.64
• 3- Doritos “Ultrasound” – 6.61
• 4- Doritos “Dogs” – 6.49
• 5- Hyundai “Ryanville” – 6.27

Global digital marketing leader Adobe, which has collaborated with Ad Meter for the third consecutive year, centered their program this year around its sponsorship of the “Ad Meter 50 for 50th Bracket,” which allowed readers to vote on the top 50 commercials from the last 50 years. Budweiser’s 2014 “Puppy Love” commercial was crowned Ad Meter 50 for 50th bracket champion on February 3.

“USA TODAY created Ad Meter in 1989 to gauge consumers’ opinions about televisions most watched commercials, and to this day, it is the industry standard for Super Bowl advertising,” said Dave Callaway, Editor-in-chief, USA TODAY. “This year we were able to engage an even larger audience through our focus on both mobile and social platforms, and we were able to celebrate some of the greatest commercials from past Super Bowls with the ‘50 for 50th Bracket.”

The ‘Ad Meter 50 for 50th Bracket’ was proudly sponsored by Adobe. Alex Amado, Vice President of Experience Marketing at Adobe said, “Over decades, the Super Bowl has become a landmark event for advertisers. We love the history of it — Adobe’s creative tools have long been used in the creation of many of these ads. And today, as marketers deliver more digital activations to build on their big game advertising, Adobe Marketing Cloud solutions can help them measure and optimize the impact of their marketing."

All the Super Bowl ads, as well as complete results and analysis, can be seen at admeter.usatoday.com. Results are also available in Monday’s edition of USA TODAY, across the USA TODAY NETWORK, and will be aired live on CBS This Morning between 7-9 am ET.

Previous Ad Meter winners and ratings include:

2015 – Anheuser-Busch – Lost Dog – 8.10
2014 – Anheuser-Busch – Puppy Love – 8.29
2013 - Anheuser-Busch - Budweiser Brotherhood - 7.76
2012 - Doritos - Man's Best Friend - 8.82
2011 - Tie - Bud Light - Dog sitter puts dogs to work, Frito-Lay Doritos - Dog's revenge for Doritos teasing - 8.35
2010 - Mars Snickers - Betty White and Abe Vigoda in casual football game - 8.68
2009 - Frito-Lay Doritos - Crystal ball sees free Doritos - 8.46
2008 - Anheuser-Busch - Dalmatian trains Clydesdale to make beer wagon team - 8.73
2007 - Anheuser-Busch - Crabs worship a cooler of Budweiser on the beach - 8.56
2006 - Anheuser-Busch: Secret refrigerator stocked with Bud Light - 8.39
2005 - Anheuser-Busch: Pilot jumps out of airplane for Bud Light - 8.65
2004 - Anheuser-Busch: Owners demonstrate how their dogs fetch Bud Light - 9.04
2003 - Anheuser-Busch: Replay - 8.99
2002 - Anheuser-Busch: Satin Sheets - 9.11
2001 - Anheuser-Busch: Cedric's dream date - 8.63
2000 - Anheuser-Busch: Rex the Dog recalls his worst day - 8.09
1999 - Anheuser-Busch: Separated at Birth - 8.01
1998 - Pepsi: Flying Geese - 9.08
1997 - Pepsi: Dancing bears - 8.22
1996 - Pepsi: On security camera, Coke driver nabs Pepsi - 9.42
1995 - Pepsi: Boy gets sucked into bottle - 9.66
1994 - Pepsi: Chimp escapes lab, hits the beach - 9.34
1993 - McDonald's: Jordan and Bird shoot hoops - 9.00
1992 - Nike: Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan team - 8.51
1991 - Diet Pepsi: Ray Charles' new jingle catches on - 8.52
1990 - Nike: Famous announcers call imaginary game - 8.17
1989 - American Express: Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz travel to the Super Bowl - 7.52.

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