• Ad Age, Friday, January 16, 2009 11 AM

Anheuser-Busch's "iconic Clydesdales loom larger than ever in the brewer's 2009 Super Bowl lineup" reports Jeremy Mullman. There are likely to be three commercials featuring them this year.

All told, Anheuser-Busch's marketing brass previewed five of the seven spots that will air on Sunday, Feb. 1, in a conference call with reporters yesterday.

A-B chief creative officer Bob Lachky admitted that the sale of the brewer to Belgium-based InBev earlier this year played a part in the decision to feature the workhorses. "People are looking to see what you're going to change," he said. "The best thing we can do is assure them that the things they love about our brands still remain."

The lineup also includes a spot starring incoming "Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien resisting an offer to do an "only-in-Sweden" ad for Bud Light. Lachky said the idea to use O'Brien emerged in sales discussions with NBC, which was eager to promote his move to "The Tonight Show."

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