February 7, 2005 11:50 AM PST
Napster's Super Bowl fiasco
USA Today:How Ad Meter focus groups ranked the ads
So it wasn't just me. Most of America agreed that Napster's Super Bowl ad was a stinkeroo. Ad Meter focus groups ranked the spot among the least popular shown during Sunday's game. Not the sort of splash a start-up wants to make on national television. I'll be charitable but what was going through management's collective mind when it gave the OK to underwrite this lemon? At $2.4 million for each 30 seconds, there have to be less expensive ways to waste the company's money. After all, we haven't turned back the clock to 1999. Or have we? Meanwhile, I want to hear your opinion. Which Super Bowl ads were memorable, forgettable?
Charles Cooper has covered technology and business for more than 25 years. Before joining CNET News, he worked at the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. E-mail Charlie. 
