Beats Electronics used Saturday’s playoff game between Seattle and Carolina to debut two new TV spots with some of its marquee spokesmen.
The Apple-owned company featured Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to show off two headphones: the Powerbeats2 Wireless and the Studio Wireless.
In one ad, Sherman — who appeared in another Beats commercial almost exactly a year ago — is driving to CenturyLink Field prior to Saturday’s game against Carolina. He’s listening to Jim Rome banter on sports talk radio and question if Sherman is worth his four-year, $56 million contract.
“Best corner? Debatable,” Rome says. “Best talker? Without question.”
Sherman then arrives at the stadium and puts his headphones on with AC/DC’s “Play Ball” blaring through the speakers. “Hear what you want” — Beats’ slogan — shows up as Sherman smiles and walks into the locker room.
Newton’s ad uses a similar storyline, with Rome punching up Saturday’s game as “Cam Newton versus Richard Sherman.” Newton’s interior monologue then plays, followed by the end of Kendrick Lamar’s second verse on the Jay Rock song “Pay For It.”
Both ads aired during the Hawks vs. Panthers game on FOX. Beats, which Apple acquired for $3 billion this past May, often uses its sponsored pro athletes to show off headphones. The company garnered attention earlier this season when the NFL banned players from using any headphones other than Bose — the league’s official sponsor — during TV interviews before or after games, practices, and training camp sessions.
