Despite Big Spenders, Lincoln Still No.1 in Auto Ad Impressions

Two new ads make their debut on iSpot.tv’s list of the automotive commercials that have generated the highest number of impressions across national broadcast and cable TV airings.

If you watched any NFL games the weekend of Oct. 18, the odds are you saw at least one of those ads, given the budget they directed at the sport. 

GMC bows at third in impressions, but first in spending, dropping an estimated $9 million nationwide in support of the Sierra with the hands-free driving option. That’s more than twice as much as the next biggest spender for the week, and nearly all of it ($7.8 million) went to NFL game programming. 

It’s worth noting GMC’s “We Will Rock You” ad had the least number of airings (168) despite spending the most. That’s due to both the expensive nature of NFL advertising as well as the fact that the ad clocks in at a minute long (meaning each placement costs roughly twice as much as a standard 30-second spot). 

But it certainly got viewers’ attention. According to iSpot’s Ace Metrix survey data, the ad rated 10.8% above the industry norm for attention, the highest among the commercials on the list. 

Also new is Honda’s “The Origin of Determination” at fourth. Honda spent $2.1 million of its $3.4 million budget on football but also spread it around a bit, adding MLB games and assorted cable programming to span out over 1,000 airings. 

Meanwhile, Lincoln retained the top spot with “Where Does The Stress Go.” Viewers found the ad “soothing,” according to iSpot’s Ace Metrix survey data, with its visual scenes voted the “single best thing.” Subaru’s “Go Further,” which ranked second in impressions, was rated highest in terms of Ace Metrix’s Likeability measurement category, with a score 9.3% higher than the industry norm. 

And Cadillac’s “AKG” with Regina King, while last in impressions, had the best overall Ace Metrix marks, scoring highest in Watchability (7.5% above the industry norm) and Desire (10.3% above the industry norm).

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Lincoln Motor Company: Where Does the Stress Go

Impressions: 355,291,052 

Interruption Rate: 2.40% 

Attention Index: 99 

Est. TV Spend: $3,990,359

Subaru: Go Further

Impressions: 234,723,488 

Interruption Rate: 2.72% 

Attention Index: 99 

Est. TV Spend: $2,357,153

GMC: We Will Rock You

Impressions: 175,274,183 

Interruption Rate: 3.42% 

Attention Index: 101 

Est. TV Spend: $9,014,017

Honda: The Origin of Determination

Impressions: 167,104,133 

Interruption Rate: 2.07% 

Attention Index: 93 

Est. TV Spend: $3,340,132

Cadillac: AKG

Impressions: 154,078,976 

Interruption Rate: 2.90% 

Attention Index: 101 

Est. TV Spend: $1,208,906

Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands

*Ace Metrix auto industry norms data measured over the last 90 days.

TV Impressions - Total TV ad impressions delivered for the brand or spot.

Interruption Rate - The rate at which the audience present at the beginning of your ad disengages with it before it ends.

Attention Index - A comparison of your ad’s Interruption Rate against your specific media placement. The Attention Index is measured on a scale of 0 to 200, where 100 is the average and means your ad is performing as expected.

Est. National TV Spend - Amount spent on TV airings for the brand’s spots.