Bud Is Super Bowl’s Sole National Beer Sponsor

NEW YORK (AP) — If you don’t like Bud, you’re probably not going to like the beer ads in the telecast of the next four Super Bowls.

Anheuser-Busch InBev said Friday it has locked up its position as the only national beer advertiser in the championship game through 2014.

The brewer has been part of the Super Bowl telecast for 23 years. This year, it will again feature its famous Clydesdale horses and, according to Kantar Media, will keep its spot as the game’s largest ad buyer.

The week of the Super Bowl is a busy one for brewers, with beer sales rising as much as 20% above a typical week in January or February.

That’s part of the reason Anheuser-Busch is buying several spots for the Feb. 6 game and securing its presence going forward.

“We wouldn’t have done it if the payoff wasn’t there,” said Anheuser-Busch President Dave Peacock.

This year, the company also will tout Belgian lager Stella Artois in its first Super Bowl with a 60-second ad. Budweiser will have one 60-second ad, and Bud Light will get three 30-second spots.

The brewer is kicking off its annual Super Bowl ad campaign this weekend during the AFC and NFC championships with two Wild West-themed spots. Both end “To be continued: Feb. 6, 2011.”