Focus on the Family, a Colorado-based Christian conservative group, is really breaking its bank. The group announced it is buying 30 seconds of Super Bowl ad time during which it will air an anti-abortion message featuring former University of Florida star quarterback Tim Tebow. –JCL

The Guardian:

Next month’s Super Bowl broadcast, which garners an enormous TV audience, will feature an advert paid for by an anti-abortion evangelical Christian group.

A former college football star known for his outspoken beliefs will appear in the costly 30-second spot bought by Focus on the Family, a Colorado-based ministry influential in Christian conservative politics.

Nearly 100 million Americans are expected to tune in to Super Bowl XLIV on 7 February in Miami Gardens, south Florida. The adverts attract nearly as much attention as the game itself, with Americans watching to see how brands vie for consumers’ attention. The Focus on the Family advert is a rare spot from an advocacy group.

The advertisement will feature Tim Tebow, former champion quarterback for the University of Florida football team, who painted Bible quotations under his eyes during games. Focus on the Family and CBS television, the network broadcasting the game, did not disclose the cost of the advert, but media analysts say the cost of a 30-second spot will run between $2.5m and $2.8m.

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