Anheuser-Busch 'Puppy Love' Wins 26th Annual USA TODAY Ad Meter in Close Vote

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Feb 03, 2014, 12:46 ET

Anheuser-Busch Wins Second Consecutive, 12th Overall USA TODAY Ad Meter Crown

MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Anheuser-Busch's 'Puppy Love' was ranked the top commercial in the 26^thannual USA TODAY Ad Meter, the industry-leading tool used to measure public opinion surrounding Super Bowl ads. The top spot highlighted the friendship between a Budweiser Clydesdale and a puppy. The ad was similar to last year's Anheuser-Busch 'Brotherhood' ad, which also won USA TODAY Ad Meter, showing the connection between a trainer and the horse he raised. This is Anheuser-Busch's 12^th USA TODAY Ad Meter win, the most all-time. Anheuser-Busch and Doritos, which combined, have won every USA TODAY Ad Meter since 1999, placed two ads apiece in the top five, with both of Doritos commercials featuring user-generated ads.

For the second consecutive year, USA TODAY recruited thousands of panelists from across the country to participate in Ad Meter. Panelists voted on every national ad that aired immediately following the coin toss through the end of regulation, giving each ad a numerical score from 0-10 via a password-protected website. The winning ad was determined by the highest average score.

This year, for the first time in Ad Meter history, USA TODAY will provide in-depth analysis on how the ads resonated across a wide variety of demographic sets, including, gender, age, geography and household income. All the Super Bowl ads, as well as complete results and analysis, can be seen at admeter.usatoday.com. Results will also be available in Monday's editions of USA TODAY.

The top five ads, as voted upon by this year's Ad Meter panel, including final ratings are:
1-     Anheuser-Busch – Puppy Love – 8.29
2-     Doritos – Cowboy Kid – 7.58
3-     Budweiser – Hero's Welcome – 7.21
4-     Doritos – Time Machine – 7.13
5-     Radio Shack – Phone Call – 7.00

USA TODAY created the Super Bowl Ad Meter in 1989 to gauge consumers' opinions about television's most expensive commercials. In 2013, Ad Meter became a broader franchise with USA TODAY Ad Meter: Year In Sports, which honored the "Best of the Best" in sports. USA TODAY Ad Meter's extended platform will include future extensions across multiple sports, entertainment and lifestyle events.

Previous Ad Meter winners and ratings:
2013 - Anheuser-Busch - Budweiser Brotherhood - 7.76
2012 - Frito-Lay Doritos - Man's Best Friend - 8.82
2011 - Tie - Bud Light - Dog sitter puts dogs to work, Frito-Lay Doritos - Dog's revenge
for Doritos teasing - 8.35
2010 - Mars Snickers - Betty White and Abe Vigoda in casual football game - 8.68
2009 - Frito-Lay Doritos - Crystal ball sees free Doritos - 8.46
2008 - Anheuser-Busch - Dalmatian trains Clydesdale to make beer wagon team - 8.73
2007 - Anheuser-Busch - Crabs worship a cooler of Budweiser on the beach - 8.56
2006 - Anheuser-Busch: Secret refrigerator stocked with Bud Light - 8.39
2005 - Anheuser-Busch: Pilot jumps out of airplane for Bud Light - 8.65
2004 - Anheuser-Busch: Owners demonstrate how their dogs fetch Bud Light - 9.04
2003 - Anheuser-Busch: Replay - 8.99
2002 - Anheuser-Busch: Satin Sheets - 9.11
2001 - Anheuser-Busch: Cedric's dream date - 8.63
2000 - Anheuser-Busch: Rex the Dog recalls his worst day - 8.09
1999 - Anheuser-Busch: Separated at Birth - 8.01
1998 - Pepsi: Flying Geese - 9.08
1997 - Pepsi: Dancing bears - 8.22
1996 - Pepsi: On security camera, Coke driver nabs Pepsi - 9.42
1995 - Pepsi: Boy gets sucked into bottle - 9.66
1994 - Pepsi: Chimp escapes lab, hits the beach - 9.34
1993 - McDonald's: Jordan and Bird shoot hoops - 9.00
1992 - Nike: Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan team - 8.51
1991 - Diet Pepsi: Ray Charles' new jingle catches on - 8.52
1990 - Nike: Famous announcers call imaginary game - 8.17
1989 - American Express: Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz travel to the Super Bowl - 7.52.

About USA TODAY:
USA TODAY is a multi-platform news and information media company. Founded in 1982, USA TODAY's mission is to serve as a forum for better understanding and unity to help make the USA truly one nation. Through its unique visual storytelling, USA TODAY delivers high-quality and engaging content across print, digital, social and video platforms. An innovator of news and information, USA TODAY reflects the pulse of the nation and serves as the host of the American conversation — today, tomorrow and for decades to follow. USA TODAY reaches a monthly audience of more than 44 million. USA TODAY is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI).

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