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Memo to Bonneville's lawyers: it's ok to say "Super Bowl"

Is there a reason why a NEWS station in a major market keeps referring to the SuperBowl [the name of a NEWS event] as "the big game"? Jiminy cricket, could the talk hosts sound any more stupid with their myriad of euphemisms? It's not violating NFL copyright to call the SuperBowl for what it is.
 
Is there a reason why a NEWS station in a major market keeps referring to the SuperBowl [the name of a NEWS event] as "the big game"? Jiminy cricket, could the talk hosts sound any more stupid with their myriad of euphemisms? It's not violating NFL copyright to call the SuperBowl for what it is.
Which makes sense considering KTAR 92.3 is an official Super Bowl media partner & their sister sports radio station Arizona Sports 98.7 also a partner & the home of the Arizona Cardinals. Interestingly, KSAZ (FOX 10), despite broadcasting the game aren't an official TV broadcast partner, that distinction actually goes to KTVK (3TV)/KPHO (CBS5) & KPNX (NBC 12News) as well as Univision Arizona.
 
Is there a reason why a NEWS station in a major market keeps referring to the SuperBowl [the name of a NEWS event] as "the big game"? Jiminy cricket, could the talk hosts sound any more stupid with their myriad of euphemisms? It's not violating NFL copyright to call the SuperBowl for what it is.

Super Bowl Advertising Guidelines: The Do’s And Don’ts​

That’s because the National Football League (NFL) trademarked the phrase “Super Bowl” back in 1969. The NFL considers any commercial activity that uses the term “Super Bowl” to be in violation. And don’t underestimate how seriously they take this. In the past, they haven’t hesitated to send cease-and-desist letters to businesses and even churches who used their name to promote events and services.
  • Do not use the words Super Bowl or Super Sunday
  • Stay away from incorporating the NFL logo or team logos within your creative materials
  • You can say The Big Game or Big Game
  • Stick to general football terms
  • For design, stick to generic football shapes and themes
  • To be on the safe side, you can add a disclosure like, “Not an official Sponsor of the NFL.”
 
Usually the NFL goes after the big fish and leaves the minnows alone. Here in Buckeye there are plenty of cotton fields with large bolls. It is not unusual for Nurse Jeff to call out "...look at that Super Boll" when we drive by a field.

Good luck getting a dime out of him! 🏈
 
Usage matters. The key words in the advertising guidelines are "commercial activity." That means the NFL doesn't want an unauthorized party to make money using their trademark. That's why ads all use "the big game." Same with the NCAA Final Four. But talk shows can promote the game as long as they also mention the date, and TV network. Short of doing that, it's viewed as profiteering.
 

Super Bowl Advertising Guidelines: The Do’s And Don’ts​



Fair usage in NEWS reporting - by a media outlet - is not ADVERTISING.

I don't think the NFL is pouring millions into our economy just to have us call it "the big game." That's stupid.

Are you seriously suggesting the NFL sues media outlets for saying "Super Bowl" in their news stories?

Show me what case and venue the NFL has sued a news media outlet. I'll wait.
 
Which makes sense considering KTAR 92.3 is an official Super Bowl media partner & their sister sports radio station Arizona Sports 98.7 also a partner & the home of the Arizona Cardinals. Interestingly, KSAZ (FOX 10), despite broadcasting the game aren't an official TV broadcast partner, that distinction actually goes to KTVK (3TV)/KPHO (CBS5) & KPNX (NBC 12News) as well as Univision Arizona.

As a media outlet reporting a NEWS story - which is NOT the same as advertising - how on earth is it not nonsensical for them to keep calling it "the big game"? They're reporting a news story - not treading upon NFL's copyright.
 
As a media outlet reporting a NEWS story - which is NOT the same as advertising - how on earth is it not nonsensical for them to keep calling it "the big game"? They're reporting a news story - not treading upon NFL's copyright.

Have you been to the KTAR website? One of the categories along the top is an entire page of "Super Bowl News."


Every story on this page has the words "Super Bowl" in it. What are you talking about?
 
I don't think the NFL is pouring millions into our economy just to have us call it "the big game." That's stupid.
Per the article above and lots of others you can find via a quick internet search, unless one has paid for the rights and/or sponsorship to do so, the NFL is, and has long been, guardful of who uses the name "Super Bowl". I agree it's a bit silly and everyone knows it as the Super Bowl and calls it that, but the NFL owns the trademark and evidently they're happy to have legal counsel in place to enforce it as they see fit.
Are you seriously suggesting the NFL sues media outlets for saying "Super Bowl" in their news stories?
Show me what case and venue the NFL has sued a news media outlet. I'll wait.
I'm not "seriously suggesting" anything, nor am I going to debate, so wait all ya want. I simply posted an article which explains that the NFL is guardful of who uses the name "Super Bowl" unless they've paid to do so. Otherwise, they need to call it "The Big Game" or skirt around the trademarked name. This type of question or topic seems to pop up every year or two when people notice media outlets, advertisers, organizations hosting watch parties and the like, avoiding the words "Super Bowl" like the plague and they wonder why. Now you know..
 
There's no reason whatsoever for the imaging to say "# Days Until The Big Game." What big game? They're a news station. It's a factual statement, and not a violation of NFL copyright, to say "# Days Until The SuperBowl" since that is in fact the actual name of 'the big game' and it would in fact be that many days until the SuperBowl. I'm at a loss to understand how that constitutes advertising.
 
There's no reason whatsoever for the imaging to say "# Days Until The Big Game." They're a news station.

If they're a news station, why are they promoting a sports event? The factual statement is it's the big game.

But once again, have you been to the KTAR website?
 
It's interesting to hear the euphemisms some stations and commercials are using so they don't say "Super Bowl". On the other end of the spectrum, some are just using "Big Game" as a direct substitute, expecting that, by now, everyone knows what it implies.

Example:
Voice of God: "Come to xzy store and get all your supplies for the big game!"
Woman: "Honey, why don't we run down to xyz store and get stocked up for our big game party?"
 
Today I went to the grocery store and they took a somewhat creative approach. While the grocery store chain isn't an "official sponsor" of the NFL or the Super Bowl, Frito Lay and Pepsi are. Immediately when you walk into the store, there are 2 very large, full height displays of the usual stuff on sale for a game-watching party - pre-made heat and eat pizzas, chips, soda, beer, sandwich, cheese and veggie trays and the like...And above those displays they have several large signs that say "We have you covered for your Super Bowl LVII party needs", and the Super Bowl logo is on prominent display . In the middle is a big sign that has the Frito Lay and Pepsi logos, and a big NFL crest with a sign saying "Official Sponsors of the NFL and Super Bowl LVII".

So while the grocery store isn't a sponsor, those soda and snack chip brands are, and the store simply piggy backed off that, created a display I'm assuming with their blessing and that's the first thing customers see when they enter. Problem solved, and no need to skirt around and use the name "Big Game".
 
Today I went to the grocery store and they took a somewhat creative approach. While the grocery store chain isn't an "official sponsor" of the NFL or the Super Bowl, Frito Lay and Pepsi are. Immediately when you walk into the store, there are 2 very large, full height displays of the usual stuff on sale for a game-watching party - pre-made heat and eat pizzas, chips, soda, beer, sandwich, cheese and veggie trays and the like...And above those displays they have several large signs that say "We have you covered for your Super Bowl LVII party needs", and the Super Bowl logo is on prominent display . In the middle is a big sign that has the Frito Lay and Pepsi logos, and a big NFL crest with a sign saying "Official Sponsors of the NFL and Super Bowl LVII".

So while the grocery store isn't a sponsor, those soda and snack chip brands are, and the store simply piggy backed off that, created a display I'm assuming with their blessing and that's the first thing customers see when they enter. Problem solved, and no need to skirt around and use the name "Big Game".
Not only with their blessing, but with their budget. PepsiFL pay for those displays, and pay for the real estate they occupy in the store. Actually, pretty much everything in a modern supermarket is pay-to-play. (Actually, pay to place.)
 
Not only with their blessing, but with their budget. PepsiFL pay for those displays, and pay for the real estate they occupy in the store. Actually, pretty much everything in a modern supermarket is pay-to-play. (Actually, pay to place.)
Yep, going back half a century, vendors paid for end-aisle displays, height of facings and length of facings as well as giving discounts to be in the chain's print and direct mail ads and shoppers.
 
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