ATLANTA -- It used to be that you crowded around the watercooler the day AFTER the Superbowl to talk about your favorite ad. Now, the majority of advertisers who bought time during the big game are giving viewers a sneak peek online of what they'll see Sunday.
"Things really changed last year with that Volkswagen commercial that showed the little boy dressed up as Darth Vader," said Thomas Harpointner with AIS Media.
"The ad execs starting shopping that around early on the web. It went viral and now has close to 50 million views. That created buzz before, during and after the game."
Harpointner said while it is a gamble to "show your hand" before the actual Superbowl, it may be a gamble worth taking.
"You're talking about companies paying $3.5 million for a 30 second spot, so why not shop it out to a different audience and try to get some traction beforehand with even more people," said Harpointner.