Cars, avocados and religion are featured in some of the 30-second ads that will try to grab America’s attention this year during one of the most watched television sports event in the world, when commercials between the action are just as important, and for some even more important, than the game itself.
Advertisers pay approximately $7 million for the coveted time slot and they want to make it count.
Dan O'Dowd, a US tech mogul and prominent critic of Tesla's full self-driving software, is taking out a targeted ad during the Super Bowl on Sunday calling on regulators to ban the technology from public roads.
The commercial, which has been kept under wraps until Sunday, highlighted the dangers of full self-driving technology and the need for stricter regulation.
It depicts a Tesla Model 3 on full self driving hitting a child dummy, crossing the median line into oncoming traffic, running a stop light and hitting a baby in a pushchair on the road.
Mr O'Dowd has been a vocal opponent of the technology, arguing that it is not yet ready for widespread use and that it poses a significant threat to public safety.
He posted the Super Bowl ad on Twitter.
He said six months ago he reported that full self driving would run down a child.
“Tesla hasn't even fixed that!,” he wrote.
He urged the National Highway Traffic Administration to turn off full self driving until the carmaker “fixes all safety defects”.
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has been a strong advocate of the technology, arguing that it will eventually lead to a future of fully autonomous vehicles that are safer than those driven by humans.
The streaming giant Netflix is teaming up on an ad starring comedian Will Ferrell that promotes Netflix's commitment to putting more electric vehicles in its programming.
Carmakers which are expected to also advertise during Sunday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are General Motors, Kia and Stellantis' Ram and Jeep brands.
Avocados from Mexico (AFM) will run a Super Bowl ad for the eighth time in the last decade.
The commercial features actor and avocado lover Anna Faris celebrating how avocados make everything better.
AFM estimated that 113 million kilograms of avocados are consumed leading up to football’s biggest weekend, enough to cover a football field with more than 22 metres of guacamole.
The Super Bowl will also air two “He Gets Us” ads that are gaining traction and place Jesus Christ and churches in news situations.
The $20 million ads are part of a campaign to “reintroduce people to Jesus and the Bible” at a time when the nation’s Christian population — and religious affiliation of any kind — are in decline.
They reportedly highlight the idea that Jesus was a refugee, immigrant or an activist for women's rights and was unfairly stereotyped in a way akin to other marginalised minority groups in the modern world. The ads all end with the line, “he gets us, all of us”.
“It fits with our target audience really well,” campaign spokesman Jason Vanderground told the Associated Press about the ads.
“We’re trying to get the message across to people who are spiritually open, but sceptical.”
The Super Bowl is the most-viewed television programme annually in the US, often drawing more than 100 million viewers.
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
- 1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
- 2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
- 3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
- 4th ODI, Sunday, April 16
Squads:
- UAE: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
- Zimbabwe: Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
UAE%20set%20for%20Scotland%20series
%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20will%20host%20Scotland%20for%20a%20three-match%20T20I%20series%20at%20the%20Dubai%20International%20Stadium%20next%20month.%3Cbr%3EThe%20two%20sides%20will%20start%20their%20Cricket%20World%20Cup%20League%202%20campaigns%20with%20a%20tri-series%20also%20involving%20Canada%2C%20starting%20on%20January%2029.%3Cbr%3EThat%20series%20will%20be%20followed%20by%20a%20bilateral%20T20%20series%20on%20March%2011%2C%2013%20and%2014.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
