Big Game Breakthrough Official Rules

Last Updated: February 2026

Big Game Breakthrough Program ("Program") is sponsored by Adwave, Inc. ("Sponsor" or "Adwave"), located at:

Adwave, Inc.

122 E Patrick St., #117

Frederick, MD 21701

The "Selected Business" (also referred to as the "Finalist" in promotional materials) means the one (1) business selected to receive the Grand Award as described in Section 7.

2. Eligibility

2.1 Applicant Eligibility

The Program is open to legal entities (businesses) that meet ALL of the following criteria:

Legally organized and operating business entity (corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, or other legal business form) in good standing
Principal place of business located in the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia
Active, paying subscriber to an Adwave subscription plan at the time of application and continuously through the Semifinalist Announcement (November 20, 2026). The selected business must additionally maintain an active subscription through the date of award fulfillment (February 14, 2027).
At least one (1) live, active advertising campaign running on the Adwave platform at time of application
Business has been in operation for at least six (6) months prior to application
Annual gross revenue of less than $10,000,000 USD in the most recent fiscal year
The individual submitting the application ("Authorized Representative") must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and authorized to legally bind the business entity

This Program is void where prohibited or restricted by law.

2.2 Ineligible Applicants

The following are NOT eligible to apply:

Employees, officers, directors, and agents of Sponsor, and their immediate family members and household members
Any entity in which Sponsor has an ownership interest
Businesses operating primarily in restricted categories: adult content, cannabis/CBD, gambling, firearms, political campaigns, tobacco, prescription pharmaceuticals, multi-level marketing, or predatory financial services
Businesses that have previously aired a national television advertisement with a media value exceeding $500,000
Franchise locations of national chains with more than 100 total locations
Businesses currently subject to bankruptcy proceedings or with outstanding judgments exceeding $100,000

3. Program Period

3.1 Key Dates

Application Period: March 1, 2026 at 12:00:01 AM ET through October 31, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM ET
Public Endorsement Period: October 1, 2026 at 12:00:01 AM ET through November 15, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM ET
Semifinalist Announcement: November 20, 2026
Selected Business Notification: On or about November 24, 2026
Award Fulfillment: February 14, 2027

All times refer to Eastern Time (ET). Sponsor's computer systems shall be the official timekeeping device for the Program.

4. How to Apply

4.1 Application Method

To apply to the Program:

Log in to your Adwave account at adwave.com
Navigate to an active, live advertising campaign
Click "Apply for Big Game Breakthrough Program"
Complete the Application Form, including business name, legal entity information, business description and story (500 words maximum), confirmation of eligibility, acceptance of Official Rules, and media release
Submit your application

4.2 Application Requirements

Each application must include a complete advertising creative (video) that:

Is between fifteen (15) and sixty (60) seconds in length
Meets Adwave's standard content guidelines
Does not contain any third-party intellectual property without proper authorization
Would reasonably be expected to comply with broadcast television standards

For purposes of this Section, "broadcast television standards" refers to the content guidelines and technical specifications of major U.S. broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) as generally applied to national advertising.

4.3 Application Limits

One (1) application per business entity
Multiple applications from the same business will result in disqualification of all applications
Applicants may modify their application at any time during the Application Period

5. Community Endorsements

During the Public Endorsement Period, applications will be displayed on a public endorsement gallery at adwave.com/breakthrough. Members of the public may view applications and submit endorsements.

To endorse, individuals must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, register with a valid email address, and verify their email. Each registered supporter may submit one (1) endorsement per application per day. For purposes of evaluation under Section 6, Community Endorsement scores will be calculated based on the number of unique endorsers per application, not total endorsement volume.

Note: Applications submitted earlier in the Application Period will have more time to collect endorsements before the November 15 deadline. Endorsement scores are not time-normalized.

Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify endorsements generated by automated means, endorsement manipulation, or fraudulent activity.

6. Evaluation and Selection

6.1 Selection Process

Phase 1: Semifinalist Selection – All eligible applications will be evaluated by a selection panel to select the Top 10 Semifinalists.

Phase 2: Final Selection – The Top 10 Semifinalists will be re-evaluated with final assessments calculated as follows:

Creative Quality: 33% – Professionalism, visual appeal, clarity of message, production quality, memorability
Business Story: 33% – Compelling narrative, authenticity, emotional resonance, entrepreneurial spirit
Community Endorsements: 33% – Number of unique endorsers relative to other applications during the Public Endorsement Period

The selection panel will consist of 3-7 individuals selected by Sponsor, including advertising industry professionals, small business advocates, and entrepreneurs. Panel members shall disclose any material relationship with an applicant and recuse themselves from evaluating any application where a conflict of interest exists. All selection decisions are final and binding.

7. Awards

7.1 Grand Award

One (1) Grand Award will be awarded consisting of:

One (1) advertisement placement during the 2027 professional football championship broadcast on February 14, 2027, subject to availability and network acceptance
Professional production services as reasonably necessary to ensure the selected creative meets broadcast specifications, with Sponsor's production expenditure not to exceed $300,000
Approximate Retail Value (ARV): $6,000,000 – $8,000,000 USD (depending on final media placement costs)

7.2 Award Conditions and Network Acceptance

The Grand Award is expressly contingent upon Sponsor's ability to secure advertising inventory during the championship broadcast at terms acceptable to Sponsor in its sole discretion. The selected advertisement must be accepted by the applicable broadcast network(s).

Network Rejection: If the broadcast network rejects the selected advertisement for any reason (including but not limited to content standards, technical specifications, or network policy), or if the advertisement cannot be made acceptable despite reasonable production efforts by Sponsor, the provisions described in Section 7.3 will apply. Sponsor will use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the selected business to modify the advertisement to meet network requirements, but network acceptance is ultimately at the network's sole discretion.

Award is non-transferable and may not be sold, assigned, or otherwise conveyed.

7.3 Alternate Advertising Support

If Sponsor is unable to fulfill the Grand Award advertising placement due to network rejection, inability to secure advertising inventory, Force Majeure events (as defined in Section 10), budgetary constraints, or other circumstances, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion: (a) provide alternative advertising support of a nature and value determined by Sponsor, which may include regional television placements, digital/streaming advertising packages, or other promotional opportunities; (b) defer fulfillment to a future broadcast or advertising opportunity; or (c) decline to award the Grand Award, provided that Sponsor shall first exhaust options (a) and (b) above in good faith before exercising this option. In such event, the selected business shall at minimum receive the Semifinalist Recognition benefits described in Section 7.4, and Sponsor shall have no further obligation to the selected business. Sponsor makes no guarantee that any specific advertising placement, media value, or cash equivalent will be provided under this Section. Selection as the Program's featured business does not create any entitlement to a specific award or monetary value.

7.4 Semifinalist Recognition

Semifinalists may, at Sponsor's sole discretion, receive additional recognition, promotional support, or Adwave platform benefits. Any such benefits will be determined and communicated by Sponsor at the time of semifinalist announcement. Selection as a Semifinalist does not guarantee any specific award, benefit, or monetary value.

7.5 Taxes

Selected business and all award recipients are solely responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes arising from award receipt. Sponsor will issue IRS Form 1099 to any award recipient receiving awards valued at $600 or more.

8. Selection Notification and Verification

The potential selected business will be notified via telephone and email on or about November 24, 2026. Potential selected business must respond within seventy-two (72) hours or award may be forfeited. In the event of forfeiture, disqualification, or ineligibility of the selected business, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, select an alternate from among the remaining Semifinalists or decline to award the Grand Award entirely.

Within fourteen (14) days of notification, potential selected business must complete eligibility verification and execute all required agreements, including an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability Release, Publicity Release, Selection Agreement, and Confidentiality Agreement. Failure to complete verification and execute all required agreements within this period may result in forfeiture.

8.1 Confidentiality Agreement

Selected business acknowledges the Program incorporates a "live reveal" element in which the selected business's identity will not be publicly announced until the advertisement airs during the championship broadcast. Selected business must agree to maintain strict confidentiality regarding selection status until the public reveal, except that selected business may disclose selection status to persons reasonably necessary for production cooperation (such as key employees involved in production activities), provided such persons agree in writing to maintain confidentiality.

Breach of Confidentiality: Breaking the confidentiality agreement may result in immediate award forfeiture. Sponsor reserves the right to seek injunctive relief to prevent further disclosure.

8.2 Publicity Obligations

The selected business agrees to participate in reasonable publicity activities related to the Program, including interviews and content creation, for a period of up to twelve (12) months following the championship broadcast.

9. Publicity and Content Rights

By applying, each applicant grants to Sponsor a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works from the application materials for purposes related to the Program and Adwave's marketing and promotion of the Program and Adwave's products and services, including but not limited to display on the endorsement gallery, promotional materials, case studies, social media, press releases, and advertising for Adwave's products and services.

By applying, each applicant represents that the application is original, does not infringe third-party intellectual property rights, and all persons appearing have provided consent.

10. General Conditions and Force Majeure

All decisions of Sponsor regarding the Program are final and binding. Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the Program at any time for any reason, including circumstances beyond Sponsor's reasonable control. In the event of any material modification, suspension, or cancellation, Sponsor will use reasonable efforts to notify applicants via email or notice on the Program website.

Force Majeure: If the championship broadcast is cancelled, postponed, shortened, moved to a different date, or otherwise materially altered due to events beyond Sponsor's reasonable control (including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, pandemic, epidemic, natural disaster, civil unrest, labor disputes, government action, broadcast network decisions, venue issues, or league/team decisions), Sponsor may, in its sole discretion: (a) reschedule the award fulfillment to coincide with the rescheduled broadcast; (b) substitute an equivalent advertising opportunity of comparable reach and value; or (c) provide alternative support as described in Section 7.3. Sponsor shall not be liable for any failure or delay in award fulfillment resulting from Force Majeure events.

Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any applicant that has violated these Official Rules, attempted to tamper with the Program, or engaged in fraudulent conduct.

11. Limitations of Liability

By applying, each applicant agrees to release Sponsor and its affiliates from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from participation in the Program, acceptance or use of any award, or any publicity activities.

Each applicant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sponsor and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to the applicant's application materials, including any claim that such materials infringe or violate any third party's intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights.

AWARDS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

12. Disputes and Governing Law

This Program shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising out of or relating to the Program shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Frederick County, Maryland. Each applicant consents to personal jurisdiction in such courts and waives any objection to venue. Any dispute shall be resolved on an individual basis and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, applicant waives any right to participate in any class action.

13. Privacy

Information collected will be used for Program administration, award fulfillment, and marketing communications. See Adwave's Privacy Policy for details.

For questions regarding the Program, contact: