More Super Bowl ads: a roundup of the latest entrants

With the help of the latest AR technology, Minneapolis-based Finnegans found a way to beat the system and put a commercial on television sets in living rooms across the country – for free – during the big game.

Debuting on February 4, viewers can watch the commercial simply by downloading the Finnegans Big Game TV Takeover app and pointing their phone or tablet at any television screen. In addition to watching the spot, users will also get free virtual beer and have the opportunity to interact with the app, before, during and after the game. 

By using augmented reality technology to recognize the universal shape of a flat screen TV, Finnegans will take over virtually any television in America during the game. Because this has never been done before, it required developing an iteration of the latest AR technology. Martin Williams partnered with Minneapolis-based Pixel Farm to bring the idea to life to create the Finnegans Big Game TV Takeover AR app.

The spot opens with a roaring fire and an armchair, where Tom, the commercial’s Minnesotan leading man, introduces Finnegans and its goal to have a big game spot, without the budgets associated with big game names. The camera then pans to a variety of local characters who extol the virtues of Finnegans and the company’s barstool philanthropy. At the end of the video, viewers are able to interact with Tom through the magic of AR, all from the comfort of their own living rooms. Instead of big name celebrities, the spot features actual and slightly awkward Minnesotans as FINNEGANS spokespersons.

Providing a sneak peek into the upgrades Verizon technicians implemented throughout US Bank Stadium, the Community has conceptualized and executed six 30-second videos running on social media. The videos are the latest in the wireless network provider’s month-old 'Best for a Good Reason' campaign, which touts Verizon’s network capabilities.

Featuring real-life stories on how Verizon upgraded US Bank Stadium, narrated by actual Verizon engineers, the six social media videos provide glimpses into parts of US Bank Stadium that only these Verizon technicians get to see. In 'Handrail Antennas,' a Verizon technician highlights the more than 1,200 antennae wired under the seats and directly into the handrails, while in the 'Rows and Seats' video, he crosschecks the system to ensure optimal performance for each seat. Similarly, the videos 'Stadium Catwalk' and 'Nerve Center' showcase how Verizon has installed antennae and fiber – over 550 miles of it – above and below the stadium to ensure top-quality 4G LTE coverage. 'Control Room' takes viewers even further behind the scenes, as the Verizon technicians monitor the in-stadium network and simulate various scenarios, such as power outages, to stay ready for anything.  Finally, 'Street Lights' highlights how Verizon has given back to Minneapolis residents by permanently installing hundreds of small antennae in streetlights around town and at the stadium.  

In a new campaign by TDA_Boulder for FirstBank - one of the nation’s largest privately-held banks - high fashion models on photo shoots take a pause and confess to the camera, “I make my coffee at home,” “I cut my own hair,” “I buy in bulk” and “I still use my parent’s TV login.”  They make saving seem sexy and cool. The spot that will debut locally during the Super Bowl.

TDA_Boulder’s executive creative director Jonathan Schoenberg said: “Our FirstBank spot is juxtaposition of the most fashionable people saying what you would least expect to hear from such glamorous minds and mouths.” 

For a generation known for accruing debt and over-spending, research shows that there's actually a large group of 20- and 30-somethings who think it's cool to save. They bring their lunch to work, make coffee at home and always wait for sales. They quietly celebrate the excitement of these small financial wins because other people don't think it's cool to save, but FirstBank does. The campaign kicks off in Colorado, the night of the Super Bowl and out of home will follow in Colorado and Arizona.