Britney to star in Super Bowl ads

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/tv_and_radio/newsid_1787000/1787492.stm

Britney Spears is number five in the UK charts

Pop star Britney Spears is to feature in some of the world’s most expensive TV adverts.

Pepsi are paying a reported $8m (£5.7m) for the two ads featuring the singer, which are being shown during American Football’s Super Bowl this Sunday.

The timeslots are traditionally the most expensive on US TV – the game has an average audience of more than 80 million.

The first 90-second advert shows the singer wearing outfits and singing songs from the 1950s through to the present day.

Fans of Spears are also being given the chance to vote on the drink company’s website over which advert should be shown in the second timeslot.

‘Unique’

Advertising expert Michael Wolf believes the football event justifies the high cost.

He told USA Today: “The Super Bowl is a unique viewing experience. Consumers really do expect entertainment from the commercials.”

He added that because of 11 September, US audiences want a return to normal sporting events.

Mary J Blige will be part of pregame show

He said: “They want to feel like they are going to get the usual kind of Super Bowl experience.”

The Super Bowl itself will be a star-studded affair.

Sir Paul McCartney will join Mary J Blige, Marc Anthony and Mariah Carey in the pre-game show.

The former Beatles frontman will sing Freedom, the song he wrote after the 11 September attacks.

U2 have also agreed to play at Louisiana Superdome on 3 February as part of the half-time entertainment.

Spears’ success is being mirrored overseas, after her latest single Overprotected went into the UK top 10 on Sunday at number five.

She also made her first ever appearance on a UK chatshow on Saturday, when she was interviewed by Frank Skinner.