1. Read the article at https://www.marketingdive.com/news/super-bowl-2026-viewership-engagement-ads-analysis/810489/ and find in it English equivalents for these Russian expressions:

If you can't log on the website with the article you can download it in the docx format

посмотреть = to every commercial that ran during the game with our Super Bowl ad tracker.

приблизительный = price of a 30-second ad

предыдущий год =

9.1-кратная вовлечённость =

по сравнению с =

средний (показатель) = ad

почти второе место / с небольшим отставанием =

на 9% менее вероятно =

развлекать = to

вызывать (чувства) = to

выросли на 7% =

появление знаменитостей =

по настроению / по эмоциональной реакции =

уровень вовлечённости 0,19% =

наиболее упоминаемый бренд =

обсуждение в соцсетях =

пик =

выйти на сцену = to

вовлечённость в соцсетях =

 

2. Prepare answers to these questions using the active words offered. You can send my an audio message answering them.

:

  1. Why do companies decide to check out the Super Bowl as an advertising platform despite the approximate $8M cost of a 30-second ad?

    Show/hide active words

  2. Why do you think there was a 0% increase from the year prior in ad pricing? What factors might influence such stability?

    Show/hide active words

  3. AI.com generated 9.1X the engagement compared to the median ad. What might explain such a strong performance?

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  4. Why might a brand finish as a close second rather than clearly outperform others?

    Show/hide active words

  5. The ads were 9% less likely to amuse viewers. What makes an ad truly entertaining?

    Show/hide active words

  6. Why do advertisers try to invoke nostalgia? Why did nostalgia-driven ads rose 7%?

    Show/hide active words

  7. Why does social media chatter tend to peak when a performer takes the stage? How does this influence social engagements?

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3. In the name of Pepsi's marketing department head, talk about how you are going to increase the sales of your beverage by advertising at the Super Bowl. Send in for a check preliminarily. 

Make up a speech of about 15 sentences, using some of the grammar expressions provided below and active words from above.

Show/hide active grammar patterns

4. What do you know about ROI? What would you expect it to be if you decided to advertise your product at the Super Bowl?

Read the text and make up 5 question on it, ask them to your teacher /partner:

An ROI is considered unsatisfactory when it fails to meet the company’s minimum acceptable return (hurdle rate) or does not justify the risk, cost, and opportunity cost of the investment.

🎯 Typical benchmarks

1. Below the cost of capital (WACC)

  • If ROI < company’s cost of capital → value is being destroyed
  • This is the most objective red flag in corporate finance
  • Example: WACC = 10%, campaign ROI = 6% → unsatisfactory

2. Below internal marketing targets
Marketing teams often use rough bands:

  • < 0% → clearly unsatisfactory (loss)
  • 0–50% → usually weak for high-risk campaigns
  • 50–100% → borderline / context-dependent
  • 100%+ → generally healthy
  • 200–300%+ → strong (common benchmark for digital ads)

👉 For Super Bowl advertising, expectations are usually higher because the approximate cost is extremely high and the risk is significant.

📊 In marketing specifically

ROI may be judged unsatisfactory if the campaign:

  • fails to outperform the median ad
  • does not generate meaningful engagement
  • produces weak social media chatter
  • does not translate into measurable sales uplift
  • fails to pay off in the long run

⚠️ Context matters (very important)

An ROI that looks low numerically may still be acceptable if the goal was:

  • brand awareness
  • market entry
  • repositioning
  • long-term brand equity
  • becoming the most mentioned brand

Conversely, even a positive ROI may be viewed as unsatisfactory if:

  • risk was very high
  • cash was tied up too long
  • competitors achieved much better results
  • expectations were to outperform the median

Rule of thumb:

ROI is unsatisfactory if it is below the hurdle rate or fails to justify the strategic objective of the campaign.

5. Role-Play Speaking Task (C1): Convincing the CEO to Advertise at the Super Bowl

Situation:
Act out a business meeting. The Marketing Department Head proposes that the company advertise at the Super Bowl. The CEO and Owners are skeptical because the approximate cost of a 30-second ad is extremely high. The marketing head must justify the investment, respond to objections, and prove that the campaign will generate strong engagement and sales growth.

Roles:

  • Student A — Marketing Department Head (persuasive, data-driven)
  • Student B — CEO (financially cautious)
  • Student C — Owner / Investor (skeptical, risk-focused)

Your dialogue should address:

  • the approximate cost and ROI concerns
  • performance compared to the median ad
  • expected social media chatter and when it may peak
  • whether the ad will amuse viewers or invoke nostalgia
  • how the investment will pay back despite skepticism

Useful Active Expressions

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