Amid Cutbacks, Disney Airs 90-Second Super Bowl Spot

Disney 100 Super Bowl Spot
Disney marked its 100th anniversary with a commercial during Fox’s Super Bowl LVII coverage. (Image credit: The Walt Disney Co.)

 The Walt Disney Co., which last week announced big cost cuts and plans to eliminate 7,000 jobs, ran a 90-second spot in Super Bowl LVII, broadcast by Fox.

Fox said most of its 30-second Super Bowl commercials sold for between $6 million and $7 million so a 90-second spot would be worth about $18 million. A source indicated that Disney had ad credits with Fox and decided to use them on the ad in the big game.

Between streaming services and theatrical films — not to mention promos for Fox projects, the entertainment industry is expected to be well-represented during the big game.

Disney’s Super Bowl commercial is designed to market its 100th anniversary, which falls on October 16, 2023. Disney says that throughout the year it will be celebrating its fans and storytellers.

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The spot shows Disney intellectual property running from Mickey Mouse to Frozen to Star Wars and Marvel.

“As we commemorate our historic 100th anniversary, it is remarkable to look back at Walt Disney’s legacy and his passionate pursuit of excellence that continue to propel the Company forward today. We are incredibly grateful to the generations of people all over the world for being such a special part of our history and for inviting our stories and characters into their lives over the past century,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said. “Disney100 represents a celebration of all of our fans and families, and our storytellers and creative visionaries whose talents and imaginations have created the magical moments that make Disney such an enduring part of the global culture.”

Disney Parks have begun delighting guests with special Disney100 celebrations.

The company is also providing fans with exclusive events, sneak previews, and, in September there will be Disney100-themed “Destination D23” for members of D23, The Official Disney Fan Club. ■

Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.