娱乐英语新闻:NBC sells out Super Bowl ads for record $206 mln

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- NBC announced Saturday night that it has sold out all its 69 advertising spots for the network's Super Bowl telecast for a record high of 206 million U.S. dollars, media reported Sunday.

    The ads have been sold for between 2.4 million and 3 million dollars per 30-second slot this year.

R&B singer John Legend (L) talks about his upcoming pre-game NFL Super Bowl performance alongside country singer Faith Hill during a news conference in Tampa, Florida January 29, 2009.

The network called it an especially impressive feat in the middle of the economy's steep downturn.

    "These advertising milestones show the power of the NFL brand and the strength of the Super Bowl as a TV property in this economic climate," Jeff Zucker, president and CEO of NBC Universal said in a written statement released by the network.

    "The Super Bowl has become one of our country's biggest holidays, a uniquely American day, and advertisers recognized the value in being a part of it," Zuchker added.

    According to NBC, 32 different advertisers bought ad spots for the telecast, and expected approximately 100 million viewers nationwide.