Super Bowl Commercials 2015: Post-Game Info on Ad Costs, Value

Super Bowl XLIX produced a nail-biting contest between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots that captivated the nation. Just how many viewers saw quarterback Russell Wilson throw a game-ending interception from the Patriots' 1-yard line? According to a report from The Nielsen Company, via NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com, the number reached 114.4 million—a Super Bowl record.

NBC not only produced big numbers on the television broadcast, but the network also came up huge online, as coverage on NBC Sports Live Extra averaged 800,000 viewers per minute—also a Super Bowl record.

Before the big game, there was plenty of chatter surrounding the ad costs for 30-second spots. According to CNN Money, a 30-second ad cost upwards of $4.5 million. That's up from NBC's asking price of $3.5 million in 2012 and the $4 million charged by Fox last year.

Selling out all of the advertising space took longer than in previous years, but after watching viewership of the game go through the roof, companies that invested in spots during the Super Bowl must have been extremely delighted with the exposure.

However, is all exposure good exposure?

This is where the value of the ads truly comes in. After all, spending $4.5 million for a 30-second commercial doesn't guarantee a profitable endeavor. If an ad fails to captivate its audience, or even worse, upsets its audience, the spot's value is severely diminished.

On the other hand, ads that were enthralling, hilarious, informative or memorable truly hold value worth of the escalated price tag.

So, how do we know which commercials landed in these categories? That's where the results from USA Today's Ad Meter come into play. A collection of roughly 7,000 panelists vote on each ad throughout the course of the Super Bowl, and based on the end result, we have a good idea of which commercials hit the nail on the head and which commercials fell short of the mark.

Here's a look at the best three ads, followed by the lowest-rated ad, based on the findings from the Ad Meter results.

Best-Rated Commercials

1. Budweiser: "Lost Dog"

This is one of the most heart-warming commercials displayed during the Super Bowl. A lost puppy attempts to find its way home and is confronted by a wolf just before it finds its way back to the farm. Budweiser's storied Clydesdales come to the rescue and safely escort the dog back to its owner.

2. Always: "Like a Girl"

This inspiring commercial hits on the stereotype of what it means to do something like a girl, imploring viewers to think about what that statement could mean for the confidence of a young girl. The ad does a great job showing the differences between how adults and girls think and serves as an important wake-up call.

3. Fiat: "Blue Pill"

One of the funniest ads produced during the Super Bowl, this commercial follows the unexpected adventure of a certain blue pill that winds up in the gas tank of a small Fiat. Well, after absorbing into the car's system, the tiny two-door suddenly becomes a large SUV, and according to the commentator, is "always ready for action."

Worst-Rated Commercial

uCool: "Heroes Charge"

Ranked 61st out of 61 commercials, this mobile game's short ad failed to captivate the voters when it aired during the fourth quarter. The ad doesn't do much justice for the game, as it features some animated action that clearly doesn't resemble what the actual gameplay looks like. This one certainly doesn't appear to be worth the $4.5 million price tag.

All commercial rankings courtesy of AdMeter.USAToday.com.