Budweiser Wins USA TODAY’s 37th Annual Ad Meter Competition

Rhea-AI Summary

USA TODAY, a Gannett Co. (NYSE: GCI) publication, announced Budweiser as the winner of the 37th USA TODAY Ad Meter competition, which evaluates Super Bowl advertisements. The winning commercial 'First Delivery' scored 3.56 out of 5, featuring a Clydesdale foal delivering a keg to a bar.

The competition, running from February 5 to February 10, garnered over 173,000 registrations. The top five ads included Lay's 'The Little Farmer' (3.55), Michelob Ultra 'The ULTRA Hustle' (3.52), Stella Artois 'David + Dave' (3.51), and NFL 'Somebody' (3.49).

Following Ad Meter's success, USA TODAY announced the launch of USA TODAY Movie Meter, a new platform for rating Oscar-nominated films. USA TODAY reports reaching approximately 79 million unique visitors monthly across its digital platforms (December 2023).

Positive

• USA TODAY's digital platforms reach 79 million unique monthly visitors
• Launch of new Movie Meter platform indicates business expansion
• Strong engagement with Ad Meter competition (173,000+ registrations)

Negative

• None.

“First Delivery” commercial grabs the reins as champion of this year’s competition

NEW YORK, NY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- USA TODAY, part of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), announced Budweiser, part of Anheuser-Busch beers as the winner of the 37^th USA TODAY Ad Meter competition. The annual program serves as the leading industry tool for gauging public sentiment and opinions regarding advertisements broadcast nationally during the Super Bowl. The “First Delivery” spot is set to the song “Let Your Love Flow” by the Bellamy Brothers starring a Clydesdale foal delivering a keg to a bar after falling off a wagon. The ad incorporates the tagline, “This Bud’s For You,” celebrating the determination that defines the American spirit.

USA TODAY Ad Meter panelists rated ads from February 5 to February 10 (1:00 a.m. EST), resulting in over 173,000 registrations. Registered panelists were required to rate all eligible Super Bowl commercials that aired during the game, from kickoff to the 2-minute warning in the fourth quarter, scoring each from one as the lowest to five as the highest. The commercial with the highest average rating was named the winner.

The top five ads, as rated by the 2025 USA TODAY Ad Meter panelists are:

1. Budweiser: “First Delivery” – Score: 3.56
2. Lay’s: “The Little Farmer” – Score: 3.55
3. Michelob Ultra: “The ULTRA Hustle” – Score: 3.52
4. Stella Artois: “David + Dave” – Score: 3.51
5. NFL: “Somebody” – Score: 3.49

“Cheers to Budweiser as the 2025 USA TODAY Ad Meter champion. With each passing year, USA TODAY Ad Meter engages a captivated audience of pop culture and sports fans alike,” said USA TODAY Senior Vice President, Monica Richardson. “Given the popularity of Ad Meter, USA TODAY is launching USA TODAY Movie Meter as a platform for movie enthusiasts to rate their ‘Film of the Year’ based on the Oscar nominations as USA TODAY continues to innovate as the place for content the nation needs and wants.”

For more details about the 37th USA TODAY Ad Meter results, previous winners, and more, visit https://admeter.usatoday.com/.

ABOUT USA TODAY

Since its introduction in 1982, USA TODAY has been a cornerstone of the national media landscape under its recognizable and respected brand. It also serves as the foundation for our newsroom network which allows for content sharing capabilities across our local and national markets. Through USA TODAY, we deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Across our digital platforms we reach an audience of approximately 79 million unique visitors each month (based on December 2023 Comscore Media Metrix®).

ABOUT GANNETT

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. We endeavor to deliver essential content, marketing solutions, and experiences for curated audiences, advertisers, consumers, and stakeholders by leveraging our diverse teams and suite of products to enrich the local communities and businesses we serve. Our current portfolio of trusted media brands includes the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, uses innovation and software to enable small and medium-sized businesses to grow, and USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, our events division, creates impactful consumer engagements, promotions, and races.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250210144197/en/

MEDIA CONTACTS

Lark-Marie Antón

Chief Communications Officer

(646) 906-4087

lark@gannett.com

Heather Gidaly

Senior Director, Communications

(845) 304-3282

hgidaly@gannett.com

Source: USA TODAY

FAQ

What was the winning score for Budweiser in the 2025 USA TODAY Ad Meter competition (GCI)?

Budweiser's 'First Delivery' commercial won with a score of 3.56 out of 5.

How many registrations did the 2025 USA TODAY Ad Meter (GCI) receive?

The 2025 USA TODAY Ad Meter received over 173,000 registrations.

What new rating platform is USA TODAY (GCI) launching after Ad Meter's success?

USA TODAY is launching USA TODAY Movie Meter, a platform for rating Oscar-nominated films.

What is USA TODAY's (GCI) current digital reach according to December 2023 data?

USA TODAY reaches approximately 79 million unique visitors monthly across its digital platforms.

Which companies made the top 5 in USA TODAY's 2025 Ad Meter competition (GCI)?

The top 5 were Budweiser (3.56), Lay's (3.55), Michelob Ultra (3.52), Stella Artois (3.51), and NFL (3.49).