Big Game Breakthrough Terms of Participation
Last Updated: February 2026
These Terms of Participation ("Terms") explain everything you need to know about applying to and participating in the Big Game Breakthrough Program. For the complete legal terms, please review the Official Rules.
1. What Is Big Game Breakthrough?
Big Game Breakthrough is a program designed to identify one outstanding small business and potentially provide them with a national television advertisement during the 2027 professional football championship broadcast, subject to the conditions described in the Official Rules. It's a platform for small businesses to compete for the chance to reach a massive audience.
2. Who Can Apply?
You're eligible if your business:
Is legally registered and operating in the U.S.
Has an active Adwave subscription
Has at least one live, active advertising campaign running on Adwave at the time of application
Has been operating for 6+ months
Earns under $10M in annual revenue
Hasn't previously run a national TV ad worth over $500K
Maintains an active Adwave subscription continuously from the time of application through the Semifinalist Announcement (November 20, 2026). The selected business must maintain an active subscription through February 14, 2027.
Not eligible: Adwave employees/affiliates, businesses in restricted industries (adult content, cannabis, gambling, firearms, political, tobacco, pharma, MLM, predatory lending), and franchises of chains with 100+ locations.
3. How the Selection Process Works
Phase 1: Apply
Application Period: March 1 – October 31, 2026
Log into your Adwave account
Select an active campaign
Click "Apply for Big Game Breakthrough Program"
Submit your video ad (15-60 seconds) and business story
Phase 2: Get Endorsements
Endorsement Period: October 1 – November 15, 2026
Applications appear in our public endorsement gallery. Anyone 18+ can register and endorse their favorite businesses. Community endorsements = 33% of your final assessment.
Note: Applications submitted earlier in the Application Period will have more time to collect endorsements before the November 15 deadline. Endorsement scores are based on the number of unique endorsers, not total endorsements, and are not time-normalized.
Phase 3: Evaluation
Our selection panel evaluates all applications:
Creative Quality: 33% – Is your ad professional, memorable, and broadcast-ready?
Business Story: 33% – Does your story resonate? Is it authentic and compelling?
Community Endorsements: 33% – How much support did you earn from the community?
Key Dates
Top 10 Semifinalists Announced: November 20, 2026
Selected Business Notified: On or about November 24, 2026
Ad Airs: February 14, 2027
4. What You Can Earn
Grand Award
A national television commercial during the 2027 professional football championship broadcast.
Media placement during the championship broadcast (February 14, 2027)
Professional production support as needed to meet broadcast standards
Approximate retail value: $6 million – $8 million (actual value subject to conditions described in Official Rules Sections 7.2 and 7.3)
The Grand Award is subject to the conditions, contingencies, and limitations described in the Official Rules, including Sections 7.2 and 7.3. Adwave does not guarantee that the Grand Award will be fulfilled as described above, and reserves the right to provide alternative support or decline to award as set forth in the Official Rules.
Semifinalist Recognition
Semifinalists may receive additional recognition, promotional support, or Adwave platform benefits at Adwave's sole discretion. Any such benefits will be communicated at the time of the semifinalist announcement. Selection as a Semifinalist does not guarantee any specific award, benefit, or monetary value.
5. Content Rights
What You're Granting Us
By applying, you give Adwave permission to use, reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works from your 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, and press materials
Advertising for Adwave's products and services
This license is worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, and sublicensable.
What You're Promising
By applying, you confirm that:
Your application is original work
You have rights to everything in the application (music, footage, images, etc.)
Anyone appearing in the application has given permission
Everything in your application and business story is true
Important: If your application contains third-party content you don't have rights to, you may be disqualified and held liable for any resulting claims.
6. Public Display of Applications
By applying, you understand and agree that:
Your application (video creative and business story) will be displayed publicly
Anyone can view your application on the endorsement gallery
Your business name and general information will be visible
Community members can share your application on social media
Once submitted, applications cannot be removed during the Program period.
7. Endorsement Guidelines
You MAY:
Share your application on social media
Ask friends, customers, and followers to endorse your application
Create content encouraging people to support your application
You MAY NOT:
Pay for endorsements or offer incentives for endorsing
Use bots or automated endorsement methods
Create fake accounts to endorse yourself
Engage in endorsement manipulation schemes
Endorsement manipulation will result in disqualification, potential removal from Adwave, and forfeiture of any awards.
8. Selected Business Requirements
If You're Selected
You must:
Respond within 72 hours of notification
Verify eligibility by providing business documentation
Sign required agreements: Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and Publicity Release, Selection Agreement, and Confidentiality Agreement
Reasonably cooperate with production efforts to ensure your ad meets broadcast standards, including timely review of edits and availability for reasonable production requests
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
The Confidentiality Agreement
This is different from other programs. The selected business will NOT be announced publicly until the ad airs during the championship broadcast. This creates a surprise reveal moment.
As the selected business, you must agree to:
Keep your selection completely confidential, except for persons reasonably necessary for production cooperation (such as key employees involved in production activities), who must also agree to maintain confidentiality
No social media posts, even vague hints
No talking to press
No telling friends or extended family
Why? Because when your employees and customers see your business on the championship broadcast for the first time—that genuine, surprised reaction is the moment. That's the story.
Breach of confidentiality: Breaking the confidentiality agreement may result in award forfeiture. Adwave reserves the right to seek injunctive relief to prevent further disclosure.
9. Taxes
You are responsible for all taxes on any awards you receive, including federal, state, and local taxes. If you receive awards worth $600 or more, Adwave will require IRS Form W-9 and issue IRS Form 1099.
Consult a tax professional before accepting any award. If fulfilled, the Grand Award is an in-kind advertising placement, not a cash payment. The selected business may owe federal and state income taxes based on the fair market value of the award, which could be substantial. All tax obligations must be paid from the business's own funds, as no cash payment will be provided to cover tax liability. Adwave strongly recommends consulting a qualified tax advisor to understand the full financial implications before participating.
10. Changes to Terms
Adwave reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email to all applicants and notice on the Program website. Continued participation after changes constitutes acceptance.
11. Disputes
Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Program are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Frederick County, Maryland. You waive any right to participate in any class action. See Official Rules Section 12 for complete dispute resolution provisions.
12. Contact Us
Questions? Email breakthrough@adwave.com
13. Agreement
By applying to Big Game Breakthrough, you confirm that:
You've read and understood these Terms and the Official Rules
You agree to Adwave's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
You agree to the dispute resolution and governing law provisions in Official Rules Section 12
You meet all eligibility requirements
You're authorized to apply on behalf of your business
Everything in your application is accurate
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