Blockbuster is teasing a Super bowl surprise on Instagram: "Is the world coming to an end or is Blockbuster releasing its first commercial in a really, really long time? Yes. See you on 2/12."
This was posted to the Blockbuster Bend account, the official page of the last remaining Blockbuster on earth in Bend, Oregon.
What does this mean? In another teaser posted on their Instagram they say "Something big is happening on 2/12/2023. Stay tuned..."
The Blockbuster brand is now owned by Dish Network, who bought Blockbuster and its brand out of bankruptcy in 2011 for the cool sum of $320 million. Stores were closed all across the country, but the brand still has nostalgic love from fans - and perhaps it's time to revive it? Could this be part of a larger PR push for Dish, or are they going to offer a service reviving the Blockbuster brand?
Blockbuster is no stranger to Super Bowl advertising, having appeared in the Super Bowl 1999 with a film showing Celebrities vs paparazzi promising sweepstakes where you could be in the in crowd.
Blockbuster - Trip-A-Day (1999) - 0:30 (USA)
They were back in Super bowl 2001 with a cobranded ad joining DirecTV
DirecTV / Blockbuster - Free Deal (2001) - 0:30 (USA)
Meet the residents of 173 Jefferson Avenue. Where every night is blockbuster night. The rabbit and guinea pig campaign ran for years, despite looking like a Jamster copy in one of the early ads called "Kung Fu".
These ran in the Super bowl 2002.
Blockbuster - Pet Shop Tonight - (2002) :30 (USA)
Blockbuster - Maniac - (2002) :30 (USA)
In 2005 they appeared in a pre-game ad.
Blockbuster Online - Mailbox - (2005) 0:30 (USA)
The CGI bunny and guinea pug came back in 2007
Blockbuster - Mouse - (2007) :30 (USA)
They also had a campaign centered around Chet the video game trainer, which ran during the Superbowl, promoting renting games.
Blockbuster - Cheese - (2002) :30 (USA)
Blockbuster's most memorable campaigns were based on anthropomorphic animals. So why not a cockroach this time?
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