InTouch & InTune

New Blog Location!

2010-07-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

Starting last week, we moved our blog onto our website so we can more easily host commenets, etc. You can find us now at www.inlinemedia.com/blog!

The First Day of the Rest of His Life

2010-06-14T11:52:00.000-07:00

There are moments in everyone’s life that changes who you are forever. The day you get your driver’s license or when you throw your high school graduation cap up in the air. When you get married or become a parent for the first time. Your life changes overnight and is never the same.

Today is the official day that our team mate Robbie Folena changes to "Rob" Folena. Now that he is officially 25 years old, he has asked us to take him seriously as an adult and colleague.

So when he shows up at the lunch room with a healthy meal, he can remember the good old days when “Robbie” brought in a full plate of nachos for lunch and when he could eat anything he wanted and not gain a pound. These were the good times. CEO

Restaurants look to score sales during World Cup

2010-06-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

As the 2010 World Cup kicked off last Friday with a 1-1 tie between Mexico and the host nation South Africa, restaurants across the United States look to welcome the soccer-crazy fans and the casual American fans to create an energetic scene and create sales.

For sports bars around the country, especially the ones carrying English or Irish pub themes, the World Cup accounts for huge increases in traffic. The American team brings high hopes and with the overall growth in soccer’s popularity, it should drive even more people to the pubs this year.

In Chicago, “Mother Hubbard’s” is offering $30 World Cup Buckets containing a beer each from the United States, Germany, Mexico, The Netherlands, England and Italy.

Hooters not only will host World Cup watch parties, but the chain also opened its second location in South Africa last week in Johannesburg.

McDonalds, the official sponsor, is running special promotions in several countries. Their “Taste the Glory” campaign has customers peel off game pieces off Big Macs and Egg McMuffins to win instant prizes. McDonalds is offering a chance to win tickets to the match between the United States and Brazil, which will take place in NY in August.

Other restaurants around the country are offering World Cup cups, online sweepstakes and online coupons through their websites and twitter.

Whichever way you look at it, everyone plans on being a winner.
Chris & Joan team

Enough Already!!!

2010-06-11T12:50:00.001-07:00

Anyone who's talked to me for more than 10 minutes knows I'm a native of the great state of Michigan. I tell most people I'm from the Detroit area, though I really grew up in Flint, about an hour north of Detroit.

Similarly, anyone who's payed 10 minutes of attention to the news over the last year or two knows it's been a rough couple of decades for my home state. The American auto industry is not the economic juggernaut it once used to be and as a result many people (my wife and I included)are either out of work or have had relocate other parts of the country to find work. GM and Chrysler needed federal government intervention in order to prevent their doors from closing. The former mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick is now in prison for cheating on his wife with his Chief of Staff, lying about it under oath, and ultimately for being more concerned with lining his pockets with money than working on behalf of his constituency. Once covered by Time Magazine as one of the up and coming leaders in the country, he's now reduced to an orange jumpsuit and a prison number.

Recently, Chis Matthews of NBC (a native to Detroit and graduate of Michigan State University) did an hour long story on NBC Dateline covering the hardships that have fallen upon what used to be the fourth largest city in the country after New York, LA and Chicago. He mainly focused on a failing public school system that has an almost 80% drop out rate. Or how downtrodden the city has become with the events that took place for the car companies. The residents of Detroit were furious with the tone of the show and demanded things like an apology from NBC, a second show focusing on the positive aspects of the city, none of which ever happend.

Today, Ann brought me the updated prime time schedule for ABC this fall. For the moment, Tuesday nights at 10 will feature the latest cop-drama called - you guessed it - "Detroit 1-8-7". Starring Michael Imperioli (Christopher from The Sopranos) and focuses on a homicide cop in the Detroit Police Department. The tag asks "What does it take to be a detective on America's most dangerous streets?"

I can't argue the point that a majority of the tarnished image of Detroit is a self-inflicted wound, but it's hard to not see this as a continuation of mass media's negative portrayal of the city. They've chosen once again to focus on the negative attributes of the city, but rather than speak to any of the positive. I've taken enough of your time, but my next blog will focus on that very thing - the positives happening in Detroit. Here's a site to get you started. www.modeldmedia.com

Introducing.... Sconnie #3

2010-06-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

As the newest member of Inline Media, I'm proud to say there's yet another Wisconsinite in the group. My name is Kaitlyn and I'm going to be going into my Junior Year at Colorado State this fall. I'm a Business Marketing Major with minors in theatre and music. Future plans? TBD. I still have two years to figure it out. I'm grateful for my opportunity to experience media in this form, and also to be exposed to other forms like creative, sales, and advertising. Inline has made me more aware of commericals, stations, and the different forms of media and how to find out what works best in a market I've never even heard about.

The goal of my internship is to learn everything about Inline Media, consulting, buying, planning, advising, and of course the office work. So, far only being here three weeks, I feel I've picked up on some of the lingo and habits of the office. For instance, I was never one big on T.V. watching, but I have gotten into GLEE, NCIS, and well I only get basic cable let's not get too crazy. However, my knowledge in the programs Inline uses and excel has increased greatly, and I feel more confident in my abilities as the days progress.

After my internship, I will be spending three weeks traveling around Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and Italy. A college students dream, and burden. I mean if I'm going to be broke, I might as well be really broke. I also plan to study abroad in New Zealand the Spring of '11.

If only for the summer, I hope to provide some relief, so everyone can have a relaxed summer. My first Colorado summer, bring on the sunshine!

-KJ

Field of Dreams

2010-06-04T10:34:00.001-07:00

A Master’s Champion, US Open Champion, and a British Open Champion. These incredible accomplishments were seen live at the 71st Senior PGA Championship in Parker, Colorado. Fred Couples, Tom Kite, and Tom Lehman entered the weekend all competing for the lead at the prestigious Colorado Golf Club. With a field like that, the doors were flooded with polo shirts and khaki shorts. Attendance was as fluid as Fred Couples swing, and people were gifted with an 85 degree day.

As I walked outside the ropes of the golf tournament, from tee to green I could only see grinning faces from the gallery. With cocktails, water, or gatorades in hand, it seemed as though Colorado were the perfect canvas to present a Championship Trophy. The air is thin, and these so called "Senior" golfers, came to play. Fred Couples (a crowd favorite) climbed up the leader board only to merely lose in a playoff against Tom Lehman. Notable hall of famers, Mark O'Meara and Nick Price etched toward the leaders down the final stretch to make the tournament one to remember.

LOST but not Forgotten

2010-05-25T13:39:00.001-07:00

Sunday night was a difficult night for me – LOST ended. Currently, I am mourning a television show that melted my brain weekly and deeply affected me on a personal level. As I try to come to grips with the ending and let me tell you – I’m still wrapping my head around it and trying to decide if I was one of the many who disliked the ending or one of the ones who adored the ending, I want to talk more about the ads that ran during the finale more than the finale itself. This is probably why I work in advertising.

Target wins! Target took LOST mythology - the smoke monster, the numbers and the wild boar and were able to cleverly tie them to ads for a smoke detector, keyboard and humorously, barbecue sauce.

As the finale went on and our questions were more sidestepped than answered, I chuckled each time a Target ad ran although I was also doing some mental math, allegedly a 30 second spot was running upwards of $900,000 for the finale.

While Target won in the ad department, LOST didn’t really win in the ratings department. LOST’s finale averaged only 13.5 million viewers, which is nowhere near the 105 million that tuned in for M*A*S*H signing off in 1983.

As for me? I’ll always be LOST. It was a show that meant a tremendous amount to me and I will miss my Tuesday night excitement and probably miss my Wednesday conversations with friends and coworkers trying to dissect the show even more.

Victoria 5.25.10

Fall 2010 TV Schedule

2010-05-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

9 months ago to the day, I took a stab at how the 2009-2010 fall TV schedule would do. This past week, the networks did their Fall 2010 'upfronts', giving us a preview of what the schedule would like for this coming year. This year, instead of going day by day, I thought I would just give a 'Top 10' highlighting some story lines and interesting points from the schedule including new shows, cancellations, and show movement during the week. (In no particular order... here we go!)

1) CBS obviously is certainly going to try and attract younger demos this year. After canceling solidly performing shows like 'Ghost Whisperer', 'Numb3rs', and 'Cold Case', the network must be hoping their new shows and movement of existing shows pays off. Specifically, ...

2) 'The Big Bang Theory' moving from 9:30p/8:30p Monday night to 8p/7p Thursday night. It will be hard to compete with the NBC sitcoms (specifically it will now be head to head with 'Community'), BUT 'Theory' grew ratings AGAIN this year, and is now one of the highest-rated sitcoms, if not THE highest week by week. Plus, it will be a strong lead-in to...

3) 'Stuff My Dad Says' will premiere at 8:30p/7:30p on Thursday nights on CBS after 'Theory'. This new sitcom is based on the Twitter account @sh%tmydadsays (except replace the % with an i- you get the drift.) Sample tweet- "I didn't say you were ugly. I said your girlfriend is better looking than you, and standing next to her, you look ugly." Premise is interesting, but not sure how it will relate to a sitcom.

4) In having two sitcoms in the first prime hour Thursday night, 'Survivor' is being moved to Wednesday nights at 8p/7p. This past season performed great as it pitted past seasons' 'Heroes' against 'Villains'. Will be interesting to see how it continues to do, especially against weaker competition on Wednesday night.

5) The CSI franchise has begun to struggle a bit from increased competition and decreasing ratings. The original show remains in its' Thursday night 9p/8p time slot, but 'CSI: New York' moves to Friday 9p/8p and 'CSI: Miami' to Sunday 10p/9p.

6) You are probably now well aware that Jay Leno's 10p/9p Monday-Friday prime show ended in February before the Winter Olympics (I know we were all shocked, right?!? *sarcasm*) and he's back to 'The Tonight Show'. Because of this, we will see MULTIPLE new prime shows on NBC this fall to fill the multiple voids. Since they do have Sunday Night NFL Football to rely on, that was one less night they had to come up with shows for but Monday & Wednesday have very new looks to them.

7) NBC also canceled the long-running, multi-spin-off-creating drama 'Law & Order'. But, have no fear! Wednesday nights still will showcase 'Law & Order:SVU' at 9p/8p, and as a follow-up, 'Law & Order: LA' at 10p/9p. They must have noticed the success of 'NCIS: LA' on the heels of 'NCIS'...

8) FOX has finally realized what a lot of us already knew- 'Glee' is a VERY popular show. Relegated to the summer last year, it's finally getting it's due spot on the fall TV schedule- Tuesday nights at 8p/7p. With competition from 'The Biggest Loser' and 'NCIS', it will be interesting to see how the show continues to perform.

9) Pop Quiz time! What is the name of the ABC sitcom that airs on Wednesday nights at 9:30p/8:30p after 'Modern Family'? If you answered, 'Cougar Town', then you are correct... FOR NOW! The show's creators and producers are rallying for a name change for the semi-popular sitcom before it premieres again in the fall. Studio research found too many instances of people saying they would never watch the show because of what the IMPLIED plot lines were. Since the show has actually morphed into an ensemble hit, featuring both male and female characters and a variety of story lines it really does only make sense to have the title reflect that. Should be interesting to see what they come up with...

10) Suspiciously quiet this spring upfront, the CW made the fewest changes out of all the networks. Only officially canceling one show ('Melrose Place', which really was done after the fall last year), the network is premiering two new programs- 'Hellcats' about a competitive college cheerleading squad (starring Ashley Tisdale of 'High School Musical' fame) and 'Nikita' about a female spy/assassin who goes rogue and now is bent on bringing down the agency that trained her. (Sounds a little like ABC's 'Alias', right?!) Either way, both shows will probably do well with the network's Adults 18-34 demographic.

For now, though, we will have to wait to see how the fall performs. More and more people are spending more and more time watching TV, though, so there will be many shows (new & old!) that won't disappoint. Happy viewing!

- AB

Things are starting to heat up

2010-05-11T14:24:00.000-07:00

A recent article on mediabuyerplanner.com confirms what we here at InLine Media have been seeing for the last several weeeks now - it appears the advertising industry is heating back up.

According to the article, Time Warner reported a 9.8% increase in earnings for the first quarter of 2010. They attribute the increase to two factors, an increase in subscriptions to magazines and properties they own such as HBO as well as an increase in ad revenues. Viacom also reported strong growth due to shows such as "Jersey Shore", which helped to achieve a 38% increase in profits over first quarter of last year for the company. CBS reported a 17% increase in ad revenues, (most of which can be attributed to one of the highest rated Super Bowls of all time) but nonetheless helped the company achieve it's first revenue increase in more than a year.

It appears many companies are looking to get back into the advertising arena to introduce new products and services in the hopes of building market share.

When you consider this, in addition to the many states that have hotly contested political races going on this year and all of the PAC (Political Action Committee) spending to sway your opinion on any number of issues, it's safe to say that the deep discounts in ad rates realized over the previous 12-18 months will not hold true for the remainder of 2010. It will be interesting to see where the economy's at and how rates come back down on the other side of November 2nd.

Until then, I suggest you keep your seatbelt fastened and return your tray-tables to their upright and locked positions. It appears we're experiencing some turbulence.

-The Capt'n

-SP

TEBOWNED

2010-04-27T10:47:00.001-07:00

With the 25th pick in the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select....Tim Tebow, from the University of Florida.

Are people pressing the eject button or basking in glory? This is the real question that came out of Radio City Music Hall last Thursday for the 75th NFL Draft. Tim Tebow was arguably one of the most highly watched college athletes in history. With his welcoming smile and willingness to win, he has been a true influential persona on and off the field. However, how will that golden boy image reflect in the next level?

At this point in time, no one really knows. The majority are signing him off as just a "college type prospect" and his ability will not translate well in the NFL. The minority (basically the whole state of Florida), however, is behind his winning ways and are already proclaiming him the next Broncos franchise quarterback.

So what is it? Heads or Tails? Red or Black?

The corner offices favorite online radio personality proclaims that the Denver Broncos needed "eggs, milk, and meat when it came to the NFL Draft, but instead bought a $200 bottle of wine."

For Bronco nation, let's all hope and pray that he ages with time...

-RF

Life Lessons from an Ad Man

2010-04-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

This is a presentation given at the 2009 TED conference. I think there's a mountain of valuable information contained within about our industry. The speaker is British and talks very fast, so you have to listen carefully or watch a few times to get all of it.

Red Feather Lakes

2010-04-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

My husband and his family have owned a cabin in Red Feather Lakes since 1958. Red Feather Lakes, on the map, is directly north of Boulder, a few miles from the Wyoming border. As you can see from the picture of my husband and niece and nephew, the terrain is very rocky. Not the best place to build a golf course but that is exactly what Ray Stencil decided to do. His wife was one of the original pioneer families of the area. She did not want to leave and he wanted a golf course. It required hundreds of tons of top soil, peat moss, grass seed at $90/sq. ft. and drilling deep wells. It took ten years and millions of dollars to build it. Probably would have been easier to put a golf course on the moon. Anyway, there is a world class country club and golf course up at Red Feather Lakes called Fox Acres. All your golfers out there, check it out. There are also a few public lakes and campgrounds in the area. On the 4th of July, they have a firework display over one of the private lakes that we can see from our cabin. Great place to put on your summer travel plan list!

-Joan

Ladies..........and Gentleman

2010-04-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Are you offended yet? It's been recently brought to my attention by a co-worker that shall remain nameless that the use of the term "ladies" to address a group that is exclusively comprised of women is in fact "chauvinistic". Everyone please take note and move forward accordingly. The next time you're at a public event and the announcer asks "ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the singing of our national anthem" I'd like all of you women reading this blog to give him the "glare." As would logically follow, the next time you hear Beyonce sing "all the single ladies...." change the channel. And finally when you go to the restroom for the 47th time during the next movie you attend and the door is marked "ladies" please do an about-face and look for one that's more properly labeled before you enter.

My solution? Word Bitches......

Ilene Wins!

2010-04-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

Queen Ilene reigns until 2011 NCAA Basketball Playoffs. Much to the wonder & awe of the InLine sports fans, Ilene had the winning picks for this year's NCAA Brackets. Who would have guessed that her Sports Acumen & Picks could reflect her keen media insights & abilities?
Her secret you ask? This year, a little help from her kids! Last year, facing early and embarassing elimination, Ilene was motivated to improve her game. Gone was her "Pick Strategy" of using each teams' mascots; "Scott, what's a Boiler Maker". Congratulations, Ilene! You'll always be a winner with your fans at InLine - an who knows, maybe on the court, too!

SERVING THE COMMUNITY

2010-04-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

InLine Media is always searching for the perfect opportunity to help others in need. The experience has brought us an over whelming reality of those in need and how grateful we are blessed.

In the past we have served at the Ronald McDonald House serving breakfast to families going through difficult times due to an illness of a child.

The US Post Office Secret Santa Program granting the wishes of many children at Christmas.

The 5th Annual PJ Day in support of Denver’s Road Home. Denver’s Road Home is Mayor Hickenlooper and the community’s 10 year Plan to end homelessness.

For the past three years we have been volunteering our time at St Clare’s Ministries, serving dinner to the homeless every fifth Tuesday of the month.

It has brought us closer as a team and we experience the joy we bring to others who appreciate a hot meal and a smile.

We are just making a small dent in the community, but we are grateful for the opportunity.

Chris Ouellet

It's MADNESS

2010-03-23T10:43:00.001-07:00

Here at InLine Media, we are participating in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, and it has been an exciting experience for some and more painful for others. Last year’s champion, Nancy Haven, has once again brought her “bracketology” expertise, and has done well so far in 2010.

This year we have a total of 18 brackets that include many slashes of red pen and brilliance in yellow highlighter. More often than not, upsets are prevalent and buzzer beaters are inevitable. This year is not any different.

#1 seed Kansas lost to Northern Iowa and the shredding of brackets began throughout the nation. Sadly, InLine was victim to that shredding as well. With the Jayhawks failure, the mighty red pen had an 8 hour work day at InLine come Monday. Out of the 18 brackets, 10 chose Kansas to win it all!

The Sweet 16 debuts Thursday and Friday, so stay tuned to watch the madness unfold!

-RF

Super Bowl Ads

2010-02-08T20:44:00.000-08:00

Everyone always has a lot to say about the Super Bowl the morning after. Aren't we all really armchair quarterbacks after all?! And especially after the Super Bowl, we certainly all like to think we are creative directors too. That being said, here are links to my personal top 3 commercials from last night (in no particular order):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rsEnwKrsvc
'Keep your hands off my mama, Keep your hands off my Doritos' So precious. And is it just me, or does that guy look a lot like former Broncos player Boss Bailey?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA7-31Cxc2I
Betty White is 88 years old!! I seriously cannot believe how hysterical she continues to be. There's actually a facebook group urging Lorne Michaels & the SNL crew to have her guest host the long-running show. Can you believe she's never done it before?! Also, if you didn't recognize the old man playing QB at the end, his name is Abe Vigoda. He's 88 also. Unbelievable. You may recognize him from The Godfather but I will always remember him as Grandpa from Look Who's Talking. Award for best use of the elderly easily goes to Snickers. (NOT to CBS for The Who's halftime show. Wow, that was a dumb joke.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcEx767TIas
So simple, and yet still so funny- mostly due to the irony of the spot. If you've been living under a rock and don't know what's going on in late night television, you probably didn't get it. So, here's a quick recap- old rivalries were Dave vs. Oprah and Dave vs. Jay. Then, Dave vs. Oprah ended when she FINALLY appeared on his show last year. Next, Dave vs. Jay ended when Jay left late night to start his own prime show. Dave's ratings skyrocketed as The Tonight Show (with Conan as Jay's replacement) tanked. So they were all BFF's. NOW, though, I have to believe Dave vs. Jay will be rekindled as Jay takes back his late night show and he & Dave are up against one another again. So why is Jay promoting Dave's show?! Ironic, eh?! And confusing...

So, those were my top 3. Honorable mention goes to Megan Fox in the bathtub, the Dodge Charger commercial with Michael C. Hall voicing all the different men's thoughts, and the Bud Light house out of beer cans/bottles. Overall I wasn't blown away, and as always there is lots of debate and I am sure everyone has their own favorites.

As a final note, congrats to Joan for winning the Office Super Bowl Pool! Stay tuned for March Madness- always a crowd pleaser! :-)

- AB

The Yard-O-Beef

2010-02-03T07:39:00.000-08:00

In mid-January, Nancy & I made a pilgramage to my home state of Wisconsin for the Papa Murphy's Co-op meetings in Milwaukee and Green Bay. While there, we decided to participate in what is quickly becoming a Denver tradition- posing for pictures with the 'Yard-O-Beef'.

To give you a little background, the 'Yard-O-Beef' tradition started in late 2009 when a 3-lb. sausage was received as a holiday gift by a creative agency in Denver that we often partner with- Sukle Advertising & Design. In response to this surprising gift (who gives Summer Sausage in Winter?!), they decided to regift the sausage and track where it went throughout the world. They even created a website- www.thetravelingsausage.com to record photos and videos of the sausage's adventures. Of course, the original Yard-O-Beef is not the only one out there now. We used an imposter, but it is certainly a cousin to the original, as ours was purchased near Johnsonville's home in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin and is at the very least, authentic.

I've attached two of the pictures we took- look for us on the Traveling Sausage website! The left hand picture is me trying to feed a deer head at Heidl's in Jackson, WI. The right hand picture is Nancy 'reporting live' from WFRV's office in Little Chute, WI.

Look for more adventures featuring the Yard -O-Beef on www.thetravelingsausage.com.

Pajama Day!

2010-01-28T08:48:00.000-08:00

We are dressing down for a good cause today! InLine Media is participating in the 5th Annual PJ Day in support of Denver’s Road Home. Denver’s Road Home is Mayor Hickenlooper and our community’s 10-year plan to end homelessness.

While we get to be comfy cozy in jammies and slippers, our entire office has donated to Denver’s Road Home. We learned that PJ Day donations have helped prevent over 2,000 people from becoming homeless and since 2005 chronic homelessness has decreased by 36%! As you probably know, we are located on the 16th Street Mall and panhandling on the mall has decreased by 92%!

We are happy to support Denver’s Road Home!

-Victoria Lindsay 1/28/10

Skating With Bernie!

2009-12-14T10:02:00.000-08:00

Last week everywhere in Denver was an ice rink. With temperatures below zero every evening and morning it was treacherous to get out of bed let alone walk down the street! No one was thinking of outside events or activities. However, the cold weather snapped (finally!) on Friday and the weekend was relatively warm. Saturday morning was perfect for the remote we had scheduled at Southlands Shopping Center!

The Colorado Avalanche revealed their new mascot this year, Bernie, the St. Bernard. He was so much fun to have out with the kids on the ice. He skated, greeted, hugged and hung out with the kids, families and DJ’s from 95.7 The Party, our partner for the event. The Southlands ice rink is located right in the middle of the shopping center, right in front of the movie theatre. The rental skates looked really nice and I must say more comfortable looking than the old figure skates we learned it!
Bailey

National Novel Writing Month

2009-11-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

November is National Novel Writing Month, and I am participating in NanoWrimo – which is contest of sorts. The challenge is to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. And if 50,000 words sounds like a lot, that’s because it is.

And it’s daunting! It’s difficult! We are 3 weeks into this madcap adventure and I’ve been out of things to say since last week. I’m at just under 18,000 words which means I am behind the 8 ball. However, I have never written 18,000 words in a row before. Even if I don’t make it to 50,000 I have done something I never thought I would ever actually do.

Sure, I’ve dreamed about writing a novel – but the sheer magnitude of it always frightened me. I’m primarily a poet and a short story writer. I know now why I keep to those forms – novels are hard work!

This is an incredibly intense experience but I am so proud of myself for sticking with it. I have learned a lot about myself and my writing in the process. Even if I don’t reach that finish line, I’ve reached a very important personal goal: told a story on paper.

-Victoria Lindsay 11/19/09

The New Kids On The Block

2009-11-18T09:39:00.000-08:00

Inline Media is very excited to introduce the New Kids on The Block. First, our very happy Mom, Jennifer McCraw, brought in her new baby son Austin Thomas McCraw aka “ATM”. He is the cutest honorary member at Inline Media so far. He brings great experience in eating, sleeping and you know what! We are sad to say that Jennifer has decided to go independent so she can spend more time with her son. She will not be returning to InLine Media and we will surely miss her and all the hard work she brought to our team.

Our second new kid is Victoria Lindsay who packed up all she could fit in her Volkswagen and moved to Denver. She brought with her from Wisconsin experience in outdoor media buying and her great smile that greets us each morning. Victoria has a big task of assisting all of us here at InLine and making sure our office runs smoothly. She is a great addition to our family.

Having such great luck with the name Jennifer, we welcome Jennifer Sanchez to our team. Jennifer has great expertise in online Political media buying. She’s excited to be here (she did grow up in Kansas after all!) We are very lucky to have her and we are excited that she is now a member of our team.

Chris Ex Ouellet - Nov. 18, 2009

'Keeping It Fresh"

2009-10-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

“Keeping it Fresh”
Part of everyday’s experiences here at InLine is to keep things fresh, whether it is a new idea, or just thinking beyond what is the norm.

We have fresh new offices thanks to Bailey and Robbie who coordinated our move. Yes, we can still smell the fresh paint and our phones and computers are even working.

Our Website is currently being updated with new information and fun facts. We held a “Best Questions Contest” where each person would submit three top questions. The votes came in and we are very proud of our winner Robbie Folena. He now has a Snuggie to wear at the CU game.

Chris Ex Ouellet - 10/15

Big Week!

2009-10-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

It’s a big week here at InLine! We aren’t just planning for Holiday, 4th Quarter, and 2010 media. The 10 of us are packing up our desks and moving! We aren’t moving far, a mere two floors to number 7. We began construction on Suite 700 about 2 months ago. We removed walls, built work stations, created a new conference room and gave the suite new floors, carpet and a pretty bold paint job! Robbie & I snuck up there this morning and the final carpets were being laid in. Friday, Grabels will arrive and take our (hopefully cleaned out and reduced) belongs up to their new homes. Please note that Friday, the InLine offices will be closed with very minimal access to our emails as servers need to be moved and relocated as well. Additionally, our phones will be down most of the day as well. InLine will be back up and running Monday morning, we promise! Nancy returns from a week of vacation on Tuesday and we have promised her a new, organized and fully functional office upon her return! She should be right at home as InLine opened its doors in Suite 700! Back to where it all began! Scott’s packing as I type this as he’s out of here tomorrow for his Wedding! Congratulations to he and Adrienne! Oh and Chris Ex married Wally after 9 years of dating and became Chris Ouellet last week! Told you it was a big week around here!

Flash Mob!

2009-10-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

Seemingly spontaneous aerobics astounded lunch-goers across the state yesterday when flash mobs broke out at 12:10 p.m. on the streets of Denver, Greeley and Grand Junction. More than 100 flash mobbers exercised their enthusiasm for healthy eating and active living in each city when they suddenly disrobed to display retro, 1980s-inspired workout gear and performed a coordinated aerobics routine. Several of us participated in the Denver mob; try and spot us!

Back to School

2009-09-21T12:22:00.001-07:00

Pencils sharpened. Books purchased. Lunches packed. Sound familiar? These are the telltale signs of “Back to School.” Unfortunately, every parent’s favorite time of year has now become my averse reality.

Currently I am attending the University of Colorado Denver in route toward a MBA. Working full time and going to school at night will not be easy, but I am excited for the challenge. To many the idea of going back to school has less appeal than having a glass of milk, pool-side. But for me it is an opportunity of a lifetime. Not only will I delve more deeply in the business academic arena, but I will be able to interact with employers and employees from a varying array of backgrounds.

A highlight that I am anticipating is that CU has acquired a new business school building that will most likely open in the fall of 2010. Not only will the new facility provide more resources for its students, but it will be the focal point for business in the downtown area. And of course, new facilities usually bring about media attention. Who doesn’t like that?!

So now that my pencils are sharpened, books purchased and absolutely no time for lunch, it’s time to focus and get to work. It’s certainly a time in my life where my social scene may deteriorate, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end. For now my emotions are high, my expectations are sincere, and my goals are in place. Stay tuned to see where my feelings are at once I complete my first exam! YIKES!
Rob S.

Fall Premiers Have Started!!

2009-09-16T11:11:00.001-07:00

Ann has done a great job preparing for us all for Fall 09 TV. Well, last night one of my guiltiest pleasures started, Biggest Loser. Two of my best girlfriends from college come over every Tuesday to watch. We make dinner and open a bottle of wine and enjoy. We all have our favorites and typically get pretty competitive. Last night sadly they were both out of town so I wasn’t able to get their favorites. But I’ve got mine. This season is all about second chances so; in fact one of mine has been set since last season.

Last season the largest contestant in Biggest Loser history, Daniel, entered the competition at 457 pounds. His partner was not as dedicated as he was and sadly young Daniel and his partner were sent home early in the competition. However, at home Daniel continued to drop pounds and by the finale he was down to 312 pounds. Last night he brought tears to my eyes with his inspiring first place finish in the first competition of running/walking a mile! Players were allowed to pick their teammates and because of his first place finish he received the first pick and took the new “Largest contestant ever,” Shay. I’m nervous about his selection with her giving up last night but, Daniel is pretty motivational so I’m hoping he can pull her through. More importantly I’m hoping they don’t get into a team elimination situation and Daniel falls victim again to being only as strong as your weakest link.

My second favorite of the night was Abby. Without question it was the story behind her journey that captured everyone’s heart. I know everyone at InLine was in tears. This poor woman lost her entire family in a car accident. Her daughter was 5 and a half and he son a mere 2 and a half weeks old. I was on Abby’s team before but she captured me when she said “I’m different than anyone else here, I don’t have a reason to live, it would be easier for me to die. But I get up and take that step everyday and make the choice to live.” WOAH! But, Abby is so positive she continued to go on saying that “There has to be a reason she wasn’t in that car, there has to be something she is meant to do.” While I might not being a great job of describing it, her positivity is contagious!

Daniel lost 12 pounds putting him into the 200’s for the first time in quite some time! Abby lost 15 Pounds! Both great numbers for week one. Let’s hope they don’t fall victim to typical Week 2 hardships!
Bailey

Live+Same Day Data Becomes Industry Standard

2009-09-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

In an effort to give their clients, local cable, agencies, advertisers, sales execs and researchers, what they want, Nielsen is proposing to make Live+Same Day the primary ratings data stream in Local People Meter (LPM) and Set Meter Markets. Following a June 2009 meeting, Nielsen clients, almost unanimously, have indicated that they want Nielsen to offer the Live+Same Day data stream and will use it to negotiate local TV time both from the buying and selling sides of the desk. Diary measurement in diary markets will also use the Live+Same Day standard to ensure consistency between methodologies.

Originally it looked like Live+3 would be the new industry standard, but according to Nielsen, it was not what the industry wanted and just never took off. As it turns out, Live+Same Day includes 63% of all the time-shifted viewing that will occur for that day.

It's estimated that the data stream modifications will become effective December 2009. Live+3 and Live+7 Data will still be available.

TGIF! continued...

2009-09-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

Time again for some more of my thoughts on the Fall TV schedule. This entry will look at Wednesday & Thursday nights...

* again, my caveats: schedule as published today! all times listed as central/mountain- these are my thoughts only and should not be used against me ;-) Station reps, if you are reading this, I am sorry if I offend your network's show(s)!

WEDNESDAY
7p- This night is STACKED with new shows in all 3 hours, with 7p being no exception. ABC debuts 2 new sitcoms (Hank & The Middle) and NBC debuts an ER/Grey's Anatomy-style medical drama focusing on nurses called Mercy. FOX has SYTYCD results and CBS has 2 sub-par returning sitcoms in New Adventures of Old Christine (which actually is a decent show, just has never lived up to its expectations!) and Gary Unmarried. I think Mercy should win this hour, especially for those people missing ER and used to seeing that type of show on NBC.
8p- This hour brings 2 shows that I am particularly looking forward to- ABC's Modern Family and Cougartown. If you haven't heard about these sitcoms, you are probably living under a rock as ABC seems to have thrown most of their fall marketing budget behind them. Modern Family stars Ed O'Neill of Married with Children fame, and Cougartown features Courtney Cox Arquette, of (as if you didn't know) Friends fame. Competing with ABC's new programs is FOX's new show, Glee, about a high school glee club. Early previews of this show in May & over the summer actually did really well; I would expect this show could surprise some in how well it does. The remaining 2 shows are in the crime-solving drama genre; CBS airs Criminal Minds, and NBC has moved Law & Order: SVU to this hour. I think the Law & Order franchise has started to lose its staying power, and I don't expect this show to do as well as in years past. Look for FOX to take young demos with Glee, and CBS to win the older demos with Criminal Minds.
9p- CBS's best CSI franchise (CSI: New York) airs against Jay Leno and a new ABC show called Eastwick, a fantasy show about 3 witches. It looks and sounds a little too much like Charmed for my tastes, even though I adore Lindsey Price, one of the stars. CBS will dominate this hour. And it won't be close.

OVERALL: FOX & ABC are all over the board; NBC wins 7p, CBS wins 8p-10p
SHOW(S) TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Mercy, Modern Family, Glee

THURSDAY
7p- A lot of people are really looking forward to ABC's Flash Forward (taking the place of Ugly Betty, which got the unfortunate news it was moving to Friday nights- otherwise known as one step from the grave in TV speak). I am not one of them. FOX airs the increasingly popular Bones (but, like House, how long is this show going to last?), and CBS comes back with yet another season of Survivor. NBC doesn't have a chance to compete with SNL Weekend Update and Parks & Recreation (which I honestly was SHOCKED to see back on for another season) and will finish a distant fourth. I think ABC & CBS will fight neck and neck to win this hour.
8p- Probably the best hour of TV on the whole fall schedule; ABC airs Grey's Anatomy, CBS airs the original CSI, FOX airs Fringe, and NBC airs The Office followed by a new sitcom, Community, about a rag tag group of Community College students including the return of Chevy Chase. My guess is that Grey's will come out on top, but it won't necessarily dominate. Rating points in this hour will be split very evenly amongst the 4 networks.
9p- ABC's Private Practice has really been gaining ground since it moved to Thursday nights from its original Wednesday night slot. And CBS's The Mentalist was the #1 new show from last year. As in other nights, poor Jay Leno doesn't stand a chance and will finish a distant third. Just like in 7p, I think ABC & CBS will fight neck and neck again.

OVERALL: CBS/ABC tight race all night; NBC struggles 7p & 9p hours
SHOW(S) TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Flash Forward, Community

:-) AB

"The Canned Ham"

2009-08-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

All year long I wait for my favorite time of year, Camping Season!
Nature always seems to amaze me with all the visitors we seem to attract in our campsites. To name a few, we have had of coarse Brokeback- mosquitoes, chippies, deer, elk, and even a black bear.

A couple of years ago we decided to start a project to improve our outdoor experience. It’s called the “Canned Ham”. A 1969 - 15 ft camping trailer which got its unusual name from its shape.

Last year we rebuilt the undercarriage and added a 5” lift to the suspension for clearance. Since then we have gutted the interior and replaced all the paneling / cabinets, as well as new wiring gas lines etc. to bring this antique into the new millennium safely. We still need to finish the bathroom and exterior of the trailer.

Some of my favorite features are the solar panels on the roof, the new refrigerator, queen size bed, and of course the flat screen TV / DVD. Even though we are not done with the restoration at this point, we have been camping with it all summer long. It sure feels like princess camping to me!

Well there is only a few more weeks left in this year’s season, so I better get back to my menu planning. What do you think goes better with Beer-Can Cornish Game Hens and Wild Rice, (white wine or a jug of Buffalo Gold beer from Rock Bottom Brewery)? Place your votes on the return comments.

Chris Ex - Aug. 31, 2009

Home

2009-08-28T13:49:00.001-07:00

A week from today I will be traveling back across the country to visit “home”. Even though I have lived in Denver for 6 years I still refer to the house and town that I grew up in as “home” and my bed there as “my bed”. It’s not that I don’t love Denver; it’s just that I can’t bring myself to think that I no longer live in Kennebunk. The day I had to change my license and license plates was a tough one. It was so tough that my Maine license is expired sitting in the back of my wallet.
Trips home are always so relaxing, just being in a place that I know and love more than anywhere. However, at the same time there is a lot to fit into a short period of time. Next weekend is sure to be filled with hours on the boat, walks on the beach (one can be hopeful for a beach day but it is September in Maine!), Bennett’s subs, cocktails at the wharf, a round of golf, dinner at the yacht club, and BBQ’s with family and friends. I’m sure Saturday night we will find some time to sneak to Fed’s, the town bar, and catch up with everyone we grew up with.
One of the biggest highlights of going home is seeing my parents. Of the 72 hours I’ll be home for Jack and Mere will be with me for almost every waking moment. They even come to Fed’s and leave their marks on the dance floor! They make coming home as special as can be. The dinner table at home or at the yacht club will be perpetually interrupted with friends joining and as they pull up chairs my dad will be busy opening a beer for whoever the joiner is. Inevitably on Sunday while my parents drive me back to Boston to Logan Airport I will get teary eyed. When I hug them goodbye my mom will without a doubt remind me “Boops, next time you come back, it will be exactly the same.” While Mere is normally right, she’s been proven time and time again that this is one thing she’s never wrong about. That’s why Kennebunk is and always will be HOME.
Safe Travels to all over the long weekend!
Bailey

Another Late Night!

2009-08-26T15:19:00.000-07:00

Monday night, we ventured off with our Colorado Springs Co-op to Coors Field. Well, yup another late night in the world of advertising! We witnessed Rockies history and one heck of a game. Ilene, Ann, Mike and I entertained our group and hung in there for 15 innings. After the 9th, the score was tied, and Ilene was out of beverages. Just another long day in AdLand, "Peanuts for all" is what she shared.
I was delighted & proud that the InLiners hung in for the home team. Mike, our "IT" Guy, made sure we all stayed put - after all, we had clients to tend to, AND had come for a game. It was well past 11PM, and we had our doubts...Mike let out a shout as "Spilly" got up to bat. The bases were loaded, a "Grand Slam" he ordered! Yes, that's what we got. I guess it pays to listen to your IT Pro! We left the stands at 11:45 - WOW.
In reflection, an outing intented just for fun, will be long remembered by everyone.
Ann Bremer added her color commentary, and I learned a lot.
Ilene Nathanson was our water (beer) girl, and boy can she schlep. Mike, the IT Guy, brought us good luck, and today is still talking of "ducks". At the end of the day, I'm glad to proclaim our team is a winner - inside and out. We hung in there together and would do it again.

2009-08-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

The Next Chapter

I live in Arvada with my husband of four years. We have a condo in Skyline Estates that has a beautiful view of the front range. We were in the right place at the right time because the original buyers backed out of the purchase.

My job outside of my job for the last 10 years has been taking care of aging parents. My dad had a stroke in December 1998 and needed more care than my mom could give him. My sister and I worked part time for as long as we could so we could pitch in with care. Through the years I have become an expert on all elder are issues: medical, financial and residential. We even tried to show my mom how to operate a scooter around her apartment in January even though she had never driven a car. My mom lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on June 29 so both my parents are angels now. I was luck to have wonderful parents.

My other interests include writing contemporary fiction and wine tasting. My husband and I went to the California wine country last October and had a great time. We are "wine of the month" members at Balistreri winery here in Denver. They laugh at us because we show up right on the first of the month to get our wine. But we say, "Why wait?"

TGIF!

2009-08-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Thank Goodness it's FALL! Well, almost. I'm excited, at least, for September and the many great things the month brings. The return of college football , NFL football, the start of baseball playoffs, and most importantly- the return of great TV! No more are we subject to watching questionable reality shows like 'There Goes the Neighborhood', 'Wipeout', and 'The Great American Road Trip'. We finally get to see who survives between George and Izzy on Grey's Anatomy (OK, we know the outcome thanks to the much publicized departure of one of the cast members, but we get to see HOW it happens), and watch Ted FINALLY meet the kids' mother on How I Met Your Mother.

As a media professional (and a healthy consumer of the television medium), I would like to think I am certainly qualified enough to make some assumptions about ratings and how certain shows are going to perform. But if there is also anything I've learned in my 8 years planning and buying, it is that nothing is guaranteed or certain. Some shows I would have never thought would survive, have not only survived but thrived! And some shows I thought would do really well have been pulled after a year, or less! (I still miss you Lipstick Jungle and Cashmere Mafia).

So, without any more ado, here is the first installment of my critique/thoughts on the fall TV schedule (4 primary networks only). Starting with Monday & Tuesday...

* schedule as published today! all times listed as central/mountain- these are my thoughts only and should not be used against me ;-) Station reps, if you are reading this, I am sorry if I offend your network's show(s)!

MONDAY
7p- I think FOX will win this hour, although it will be close between House, Dancing with the Stars on ABC (they have a weak cast this fall in my opinion though), and Heroes on NBC. Keep an eye on How I Met Your Mother on CBS, though, from 7p-7:30p. The show has grown in ratings every year its been on, and is finally getting the credit it deserves for being a REALLY great sitcom with a great cast (see Emmy & Golden Globe nominations). It's my personal favorite show on TV right now so maybe I'm a little biased...
8p- CBS takes this hour fairly easily I think. DWTS second performance hour is on ABC, then Lie to Me on FOX (a good show that benefits from the House lead-in), and a new show on NBC- Trauma (think ER with less time spent in the emergency room and more time spent out at the accident scenes). But the strength of the two CBS sitcoms (2 1/2 Men & Big Bang Theory) are too much for the other shows.
9p- The first time I will mention Jay Leno. His primetime show is much-hyped (Monday-Friday from 9p-10p, so NBC basically eliminated 5 prime shows from last year), but we really don't know what to expect ratings-wise. I think Monday is actually one night he has a chance to perform quite well. It just will greatly depend on guests- a lot of viewing will probably be tune-in, tune-out (viewers will tune in for a short period of time to either sample the show and see how they like it, or to see one guest, one feature on the show, etc.) So, back to Mondays... Jay is only up against the weakest of the CSI franchises on CBS, and Castle on ABC. I was actually surprised to see this show on the fall schedule, as I thought for sure it would be canceled. I think CSI: Miami will win the hour and Castle/Jay Leno will be neck and neck to finish second.

OVERALL: CBS wins the night. NBC struggles.
SHOW(S) TO KEEP AN EYE ON: How I Met Your Mother, Trauma, Jay Leno

TUESDAY
7p- Expect a tight battle with NCIS (CBS) & The Biggest Loser (NBC). NCIS started somewhat slow, but has actually gained ratings and share each season and even spurred a spin-off this fall (see 8p Tuesday). ABC is airing Shark Tank (a weird combination of various reality shows featuring people trying to convince millionaires to invest in their inventions) and then V once Shark Tank ends. I am not very familiar with V (stands for 'The Visitors'), but I won't be tuning in as I'm not into sci-fi. A second 2-hour reality show, So You Think You Can Dance, is on Fox. SYTYCD is a strong summer show, but I think it won't perform nearly as well in the fall.
8p- Second hours of Biggest Loser and So You Think You Can Dance. ABC airs the Dancing with the Stars results and has a good chance to win this hour! CBS, though, launches NCIS: LA, a spin-off of the popular NCIS, and I expect this show to do as well, or better.
9p- All 3 shows are new! (Remember FOX airs local news this hour). Starting with CBS, The Good Wife really intrigues me. It doesn't match at all with the previous 2 hours of programming, but I think its stars are going to appeal to NCIS viewers and after watching the pilot, I would say the plot (think fallen from grace politician's wife has to go back to work as a lawyer, something she hasn't done in 15+ years) is actually quite strong. The Forgotten on ABC looks REALLY confusing- another sci-fi show that I won't be tuning in to. Finally, Jay again on NBC.

OVERALL: CBS/NBC tight race 7p-9p (CBS wins 9p easily); ABC stuggles 7p & 9p hours
SHOW(S) TO KEEP AN EYE ON: NCIS: LA, The Good Wife

:-) AB

First Day of School

2009-08-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

This week, I took my “baby” to her first day of high school and could not help but reminisce about the Nathanson Family First Day of School ritual.

First, we enjoy a special homemade First Day of School breakfast. We all do our chores: make beds, straighten up and organize what we can for dinner. The children grab their brand new backpacks, filled with sharpened pencils, brand-new folders and binders. You can just see in their faces, the excitement that they will get to share their most favorite aspects of their summer reading assignments.

Adorned in their most favorite brand new outfits and haircuts, they stand three in a row, smile and click --- we have our memory.

Well … WAKE-UP! Wouldn’t that be a really boring memory!

So, here comes reality … First of all, “nowadays” the First Day of School is still summer in my book … at least that’s what I call mid-August. Its hot, the buildings are not air-conditioned and who takes anything seriously before Labor Day. The kids are still on summer hours, so we pry them out of bed, dust them off, throw them a stale Power Bar, run around looking for the tattered backpack that has last year’s crumpled, moldy (not going to lie) supplies and head out the door nagging about how they actually should try their summer reading instead of cramming on the Spark notes last night. We all run out, leaving the house in its usual shambles.

We beg and bribe the kids to be serious for the First Day of School photo, “stop sticking out your tongue”, “don’t hit your sister”, “come on, BE serious”. And yes, finally … they stand three in a row, smile and click --- we have our memory.

Ilene

Downhill from here?

2009-08-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

I've been having a pretty good year. Being the superstitious type, it scares me to even type that, but it's true. In May I celebrated my one year anniversary here at Inline. On July 3rd my fiance of 18 months and I purchased our first house.This past weekend, I was back in Michigan for my bachelor party. It was one of the most memorable days of my life. In October I'll have another unforgettable day when we say our I do's. I have much to be thankful for.

To be clear, I'm doing my absolute best to enjoy the ride. But every once in a while I hear from that little voice. You know, the one that you hear from time to time that reminds you of Newton's laws of physics? Yeah, that one. Occasionally he likes to do his best Jack Nicholson and ask "what if this is as good as it gets?" He's also been known to put together PowerPoint presentations with graphs and charts illustrating the ups and downs of life. There are even photos of roller-coasters to jazz it up and make it fun. I'd like to tell that little voice not to quit his day job, but then I realize that reminding me of these things is his day job, and well, it all goes downhill from here.

2009-08-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

Wedding Bells in Grand Lake

2009-08-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

Only a few weeks ago, I became the "mother of the groom" for the very first time. Our daughter, the oldest of our three children, was married three years ago and that was hard enough - a strange mixture of happiness and tears, excitement for a newly-launched family and a bit of melancholy for the child that was now all grown up! As parents, our job is to work ourselves out of a job - taking a completely dependent infant and turning them loose on society some 18 years later as, hopefully, independent, moral, loving, productive members of society.

A son's a son till he takes a wife, but a daughter's a daughter for the rest of her life! I'm sure you've heard this before and it's true. My son, Stephen and his sweetheart met each other for the first time in 5th grade. They started dating as juniors in high school and the romance endured 4 years at CU Boulder. Finally, this summer, they officially became husband and wife in Grand Lake, Colorado with Mt. Baldy and the Rocky Mountain National Park in the background. For the record, my new daughter-in-law is easy to love and has been part of our family for years before their wedding on June 26th. Still, it was a little hard releasing my little boy to another woman, I must say. For years, I was the only woman in his life. Whether I was wearing a cocktail dress or an old bathrobe, hair color or jewels, he always told me I was "beautiful" and that one day he would marry me. Aah - unconditional love. My adorable new daughter-in-law is a wonderful cook, sweet as the day is long, funny, intelligent and, not surprisingly, beautiful! As it should be, she is the new woman in my little boy's life. After multiple viewings of "Mother of the Bride" (conditioning myself so as not to cry) I behaved myself and did not dissolve into a puddle of water. Those precious memories are mine to keep, but my little boy, now a Man - is all grown up and he's going to make my dear Tahnee a wonderful husband and father.

Sturgis, SD

2009-08-17T13:38:00.001-07:00

Sturgis, SD
Annually, I ride to Sturgis the first week of August for one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the world. It is always an incredible experience traveling by motorcycle and seeing old friends. I ride a 1999 Harley Davidson Softail (Night Train).

This year was the first year I didn’t catch any rain for the 426 mile trip. I meet up with people just like you and I, like John and Deb from MN who are farmers and Larrs who is a gravedigger (yep!) a real live gravedigger.

Sturgis, South Dakota is an amazing place for a small town of 50,000 in the Black Hills to host over 500,000 bikers in one week. There are several places of business that only open for one week during the rally. To name a few of my favorites: (and the name really says it all)

The Road Kill Café: This is a place you just have to stop by. The food is usually cold and is served on paper plates along with plastic silverware, but the name brings me back every time.

The Full Throttle Saloon: is one of the largest biker bars in the world where they let you ride your motorcycle inside the bar. This bar offers several live bands, naked bull riding and the best full on burnout competitions inside where I have watched people burn the back tires right off their bikes.

The Dungeon: is an underground bar where the patrons have /will remove their underwear right in front of you and hang it from the ceiling. There are also other things that occur down there, but I am trying to keep this clean.

Last, is the Broken Spoke: A really interesting biker bar as it has antique motorcycles throughout the bar, some dating back to the early 1900. I always like to stop by here to see the map they set up for everyone that visits from around the world. They encourage you to place a stickpin from where you have traveled. People come from all around the world (ie. Europe, Australia, Russia, China, etc.) Of course Colorado is the largest supporter of the Rally. So, the next time you are driving down the road and see a bike give them a little room, it could be me.

Chris Ex, Aug. 2009

2009-08-14T15:19:00.000-07:00

I live in the Lodo area of Denver in a one-bedroom apartment by myself. However, most nights I’m anything but alone. Two of my closest college friends, Jimi and Cheese, (Craig’s name has been pretty much formally changed thanks to a few years in a fraternity) live below me one floor and 6 doors to the right. Upon moving into my new apartment I knew I should give a spare key to someone in case of lock out, emergency etc... Well, there were two likely candidates. Ever since that moment our other friends haven’t let any of us live down our Seinfeld living situation.
In Seinfeld, Jerry’s apartment and refrigerator have revolving doors. Jimi & Cheese have been grocery shopping a total two times since I moved in upstairs. Some days, I will come home thinking about a cold beer in the fridge only to be greeted by a beerless fridge and a text from Cheese “had a tough day, grabbed the beer”.
When I told them I was going to blog about us it was unanimous that Jimi is without a doubt our Kramar.(Hes on the left in the picture) Jimi has gone through a lot in the past year but his sense of humor and out look on life have kept all of us entertained. He is one of the most astute people I know from 9-5 (although he’ll tell you he works 7am-7pm) then all of a sudden work is over. “Jim” is put away and “Jimi” comes to life. He tells us though that “Jim” is always around cause you never know when you’re going to have “talk shop.”
Our Seinfeld story is coming to a close because, I am moving out next month to an apartment closer to downtown and only 5 blocks from the InLine offices. Although I would never tell them, I am going to miss their constant company, laughter and family feeling they’ve given me. Moving merely 3 blocks away I know not much will change. I have little doubt there won’t still those nightly 6pm phone calls “Hey Bails, what’s up, what’s for dinner?”

Off to start the weekend with a cold beer, hope there is one in there!

Kick Ball

2009-08-13T14:43:00.000-07:00

I consider myself lucky because unlike Robbie, I don't have to wait once a year to enjoy my favorite activity. I spend every Wednesday night with a great group of friends, cold beers, feisty banter, and a big rubber ball.
This summer I have joined WAKA, the premier (and only) World Adult Kickball Association. This is my team’s first year playing kickball together. We are all seasoned athletes, who developed our skills in a long and arduous training process called “Elementary School”. However, it seems the 20-30 years since that training have left us a little rusty. Despite our full roster of 25 aggressive players, team “So is Your Face”
has yet to win a game, but we are all learning key tips for next year. For example: if you fill the outfield with girls- you cannot later be surprised when we all throw "like girls".

Now, don’t let our record fool you. We are serious competitors. Let me take you back to a time and place not too long ago (specifically two weeks ago at the City of Cuernavaca Park. It was raining and it was raining hard. Team "So is Your Face" refuses to forfeit. Clothed in our battle armor of sweatbands and random warm clothing from everyone’s trunks we take the field, beers in hand. Teammates are slipping, falling, and struggling to overcome the mud. After an epic battle, the last inning is upon us, score 1-0, we are up to kick and down by one. The first two balls are caught in the air. High fives are passed around the field. This is crunch time, we send in our big kickers...we load the bases.... this is it, everything is set, perfect for a big win. Our best kicker is up. The first ball goes out of bounds. The next ball bounces across the plate, the ref calls a strike. The pitcher is getting cocky; you can tell the next one will be a strike. Our best kicker kicks the final ball, it’s going, going...but is it gone? There is a scramble in the outfield by the other team. “RUN!” is all you hear from the sidelines. The person on 3rd runs for home, everything seems like it is going in slow motion. Team “So is Your Face” is perched on their first possible tie, or even victory, and the runner from 3rd… slips in the mud, is tagged out, and the game is over.

Yet another loss for “So is your Face”. Luckily we get to play again, next week.

That Time of Year...

2009-08-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

My story consists of a tradition. A tradition that many people might consider laughable or pathetic, is an annual ritual that I crave. Magazines hit shelves in mid July as my emotions begin to tingle with excitement. Once August 1st passes, the countdown begins as if there were going to be a lunar eclipse in the near future. However, this is something different. Something magical. Yes, that's right, it's the world of Fantasy Football.

Every year my close college buddies from all over the country travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan for our annual fantasy football draft (5 years in the making). With notebooks, magazines, and excel spreadsheets in hand, we select what seems to be the "greatest fantasy football team" ever assembled. Hours and hours pass by as if you never want the draft to end. As some hold their heads high, others crumble into their magazines with disappointment.

As sad as this may sound on paper, this event is held with the highest regard by my friends and me. It's a time where laughs are contagious and where men can be boys. But more importantly, it's an excuse to get together once a year to remember the great times we spent in college. So for all of those fantasy football fans out there: have fun, laugh a ton, and choose your team wisely!

Using Print effectively for the Pizza Biz

2009-07-31T08:29:00.000-07:00

Email and digital marketing are certainly valuable tools and much in the news these days, but I recently read an article on some pizza operators who are using print and direct mail very effectively.

According to the 2009 Pizza Industry Survey, 72% of pizza operators ranked direct mail coupons, box toppers and door hangers as important to very important in their marketing efforts.

One operator shared the success they had using a local, very local - 1.5 to 2 mile radius around each of their stores - strategy of distributing door hangers. Drivers delivering pizza take the oppportunity to door hang homes or apartments on either side of the address delivered to. Coded for each driver, they receive an incentive if their coupons are returned!

What's the value of a new customer? Another pizza purveyor mailed out 1,000 direct mail cards to a demographically targeted list all within a 3-mile radius of their stores. The offer was a good one - one free pizza. The marketing effort, including the cost of the mailing and the free product they provide amounts to approximately $1,000. They consistently see a return of 13 to 18% which means between 130 and 180 people visiting their stores to redeem their coupon. With this return rate, this marketing effort pays for itself every time, but what's the future benefit?

According to this pizza entrepreneur, if they retain just 45 of those folks as regular customers and they come in just one time per month, it would result in a $10,000 sales gain. Pretty good ROI.

Happy 50th Ilene!

2009-06-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

In honor of Ilene's (impending) 50th birthday on Friday, I asked the InLine crew to help me come up with 50 reasons that Ilene is fabulous and what makes her a STAR! Not only does this list give our readers' insight to Ilene's personality, but probably also what a day in the life of a member of the ILM crew entails. Hope you enjoy!

1) She is the best office mom!
2) Ilene has been a true inspiration and mentor- she is how we all aspire to be with clients, co-workers, and everyone in her life!
3) Ilene is InLine’s very own ‘Queen’, reigns with a quiet brilliance.
4) No matter how busy she is, she always makes time to listen.
5) She says it like it is.
6) You always know where you stand with her.
7) She stays calm in a crisis.
8) She always figures out a way to make a bad situation better!
9) She helps out around the office in any way that she can.
10) She successfully juggles career and family.
11) She travels well- even calls in from the shower!
12) Ilene always makes you feel like you are the most important person she’s talked to all day!
13) She is humble and has a great sense of humor about herself!
14) I love the jokes and pranks she plays on all of us.
15) No matter how bad her day is going, she always finds something to laugh at, or make a joke about.
16) Her laughter can be heard from California Street!
17) I love her smile and her good mornings to everyone.
18) Ilene’s smile often lights up the room, in both Spanish & English.
19) She is fair in business and tries to see things from both sides of the desk.
20) She has three teenagers and all are still alive!
21) She has the sweet spirit of encouragement!
22) Because of how clean her car is.
23) Her frustrations with riding public transportation! (Ask her about her run-in with the RTD person checking passes on the light rail!)
24) She always has pretzels at her desk.
25) Her diet coke addiction.
26) Her hair after a stressful day.
27) How she ALWAYS loses her glasses (sometimes on top of her head!)
28) How she thinks it’s totally acceptable for her youngest daughter to spend afternoons alone at Starbucks.
29) She’s the only person who drives to work and manages to lose her keys between parking and the office.
30) How her desk is normally about as organized as a child’s finger painting.
31) She refers to her parents as Judy & Harvey, even to her children.
32) I love how she treats us all like family.
33) I love how Ilene talks to each client- She sounds like she is talking to her best friend and makes them feel like they are the only client!
34) I love her intercom system… she talks to Ann & Scott in the back offices like they are sitting next to her.
35) She prefers to holler down the hallway rather than use her intercom.
36) She is old enough to remember some cheesy TV commercials: ‘Love that Bobcat’ for instance for the Mercury Cougar.
37) The way she interjects Yiddish terms into every form of conversation!
38) She has saved the day more times than Nancy cares to admit!
39) She willingly shared an office with Steve Sander and outlasted him.
40) Nancy will forever be grateful that she went from InLine’s first Go To Freelancer to Lieutenant General and often takes on 5-Star General!
41) Her college stories and how they sound more like dreams than actual events.
42) Her candy jar that is always full!
43) Her obvious love for firemen and young men at Sports Column.
44) The misspelled flier for the firemen auction on her office door.
45) The fact that she puts up with us teasing about her being a cougar! (Her kids would probably be SO embarrassed if they knew.)
46) She is a very accommodating hotel room roommate and a great travel companion.
47) Her rule that she is only allowed to drive and NEVER allowed to provide directions/navigation.
48) How silly she gets after ONE gin and tonic!
49) Her undying love for her dog, Jake (she always says he’s the only one who listens to her!)
50) Last but certainly not least, she honestly makes 50 look like the new 40!

Inbound Marketing University

2009-06-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

Next week Scott and I are participating in IMU (Inbound Marketing University)- we are hoping to learn even more about online marketing and advertising options. From June 15-19, we attend two hour long webinars a day, followed by a certification exam on June 22nd. Classes include:
* How to Blog Effectively for Business
* Social Media & Building Community
* Successful Business Uses for Facebook & LinkedIn
* Advanced SEO Tactics: Beyond Keyword Research

Hopefully we will be learning tons upon what we already know! Can't wait!
- AB

The NBA Playoffs

2009-05-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

As an advocate fan of professional sports, the NBA has come full circle in 2009 not only for myself, but seemingly for everyone around me. With stars like Lebron James and Kobe Bryant leading the pack, people from coast to coast are curious on what the buzz is all about. Not only am I glued to my television screen every night, but my girlfriend, my parents, and even aunts and uncles are emailing me about the special entertainment the NBA is displaying.

With all of this said, I ventured into how these special times for the NBA are affecting markets throughout the country. From national sports radio to local television networks, it seems that the NBA playoffs have been clogging up the marketplace. Did you know that the NHL championship will be decided in the next couple of weeks? (yawn) Exactly.

The USA TODAY reports that “Sunday's Game 3 (Cleveland vs. Orlando) drew an overnight rating that was up 65% from a San Antonio-Lakers playoff game in the time slot last year” Furthermore, “ESPN, after the first two Denver-Lakers games became ESPN's most-watched basketball games ever, [and] had overall NBA playoff ratings running 3% ahead of last year.”

Most watched basketball games ever?

TNT reported that “Game 7 of the epic first round battle between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls…was watched by 6.9 million total viewers on TNT. That audience total makes it the most-watched round one game in cable television history.”

In cable television history?

Shocked? Surprised? Stunned? I am not. The NBA has all the players in place and all of the advertising it needs to fuel the league for many years into the future. Looking back on it now, I should have known that when my girlfriend wanted to tune in every week that the NBA was headed in the right direction.

GO NUGGETS!

-RF

David vs. Goliath

2009-05-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

In a move that could be ground-breaking for the TV measurement industry, WSVN (Fox affiliate in Miami) has filed a lawsuit against Nielsen, claiming that Nielsen is a monopoly and that they publish incorrect data.

For those of you unfamiliar, Nielsen uses 3 different methodologies to first measure TV viewership and then to provide agencies, stations, and any other interested party with ratings:
- Diary Only which asks viewers to write down what they watched;
- Household Meter/Demo Diary Combo which is a mix of meters attached to the TV measuring viewership on a household level, combined with demographic information from the diaries; and
- People Meters which is the same as the household meter, but requires all viewers to enter their demographics as well, so the household viewing is measured along with individual demographic viewing.

Ideally, the methodolgies shouldn't report vastly different ratings. In WSVN's case, though, when they shifted from diaries to people meters in October 2008 (the same month the Denver TV market also switched!), the station lost almost 50% of their young adult audience (they point to American Idol's ratings in their market as an example and proof). This of course lowers the value of the station and reduces ad revenue dramatically. (Imagine you were paying $1,000 for a spot in A.I. before... why would I want to continue to pay the same rate, if Nielsen is telling me I'm only getting half the viewers in my A 18-49 demographic I thought I was!? I would want that same spot for $500 or LESS!).

Nielsen is unbelievable protective of their methodology and ratings rationale and this lawsuit could force them into a VERY uncomfortable situation. Which measurement is correct? Or are they both wrong? Hopefully this lawsuit will help us learn. Stay tuned!!

Here is the article from the station's website describing the suit in more detail (yes, it may be a bit biased, but still provides some good information!):
http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/MI119585/

Interested in Twitter?

2009-05-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

So we know social media is all the rage lately. Even though Twitter seems to be a passing fad (according to an article I read about 'Twitter Quitters'- the site only has a 40% retention rate, MUCH lower than most other social networking sites), I came across this article which I found to be very insightful about creating a Twitter profile for anyone who is interested. The highlights and my personal progress...

1) Use your real name (and don't underscore!). NOTE: I've already messed this up (oopsie!), as I used Brems10 (yes, this is a shameless plug to follow me on twitter!). Hopefully, though, this isn't so bad as this is my personal email address and many people who know me know I go by this all the time.

2) Use a real picture. DONE!

3) Treat your bio like SEO copy. Somewhat done. After reading a 'perfect' bio copy, I'm motivated to change mine up a bit. Keep in mind, though, like everything in the Twitter world you're limited to a certain number of characters (160 in this case)!

4) Include a URL. DONE! (My profile links to this site- I know, I know. I'm so clever!)

5) Consider a custom background. I do have a cute background that is offered by Twitter, but again, I may be motivated enough by this article to make it a little more personalized.

6) Don't Protect Your Updates. I have found this to be very true, because it really helps people find you and follow you- if your updates are protected, only your followers are going to see them and it's going to be hard for people to find you!

7) Take it Slow. This basically means to try and keep your following-to-follower ratio as close to 1:1 as possible. I'm trying, but I'm honestly loving this Twitter thing and can't wait to learn more! Enjoy!

http://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-media-marketing/7-ingredients-in-the-perfect-twitter-profile/

- Ann

One of our Proud Leaders

2009-04-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

All I can say is.... wow. The InLine crew is known to pull some pranks on each other. Payback's a you-know-what!

WOW!!! LOVE IT!!!

What is your favorite Papa Murphy's pizza?

2009-04-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

Click on the video above to see what kind of pizza Robbie likes!

And here's Scott's thoughts.

College Friday!

2009-04-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

Today is College Friday, an initiative by College in Colorado to raise awareness about the importance of higher education for Colorado's youth. Coinciding with the statewide ACT exam, the idea is that by wearing our favorite college logo apparel, we help draw attention to the importance of education beyond high school. This was our second year participating! We became involved thanks to Bridget Redfern, a former assistant at InLine, who is now the Assistant to Marketing and Partnerships with College in Colorado.

Back Row (from L to R): Robbie (CU), Bailey (DU), Chris (UCLA), Ann (Wisconsin), Jennifer (DU), Joan (CU), & Scott (Michigan State)

Front Row (from L to R): Julie (DU) & Kristin (CU)

Day 1 Is In the Books...

2009-03-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

After a great day of basketball, we have one man standing alone in first place- Dennis only missed one game, and surprisingly it was his upset pick of Akron over Gonzaga that caused him to only have 15. In second place, we have 3 brackets with 14 of 16 right (Scott, Ann, & Julie who did lose a Sweet 16 team). In regards to the Hall of Shame, we have 4 brackets with only 11, which really shouldn't be considered so bad since that's what President Obama is sitting at after Day 1!

Today is a big day, with lots of upsets possible (and upsets picked, specifically NDSU over Kansas and Wisconsin over Florida State). We'll see what happens!

Round 1 Update #1

2009-03-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

So, after the first 3 games are over, we have 4 perfect brackets that are 3 for 3... Congrats to Julie, Dennis, Robbie, and Scott who are all on the 'Hall of Fame'. That Memphis- Cal St. Northridge was a little too close for comfort, especially for the 3 brackets who had Memphis winning it all! But the Tigers prevailed in the end... onto the next 4 games!

- #5 Purdue vs. #12 Northern Iowa
- #1 North Carolina vs. #16 Radford
- #10 Maryland vs. #7 California
- #1 Connecticut vs. #16 Chattanooga

March Madness

2009-03-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again! March Madness has arrived, and everyone at InLine has gone 'all in' for a tournament pool... We have 17 brackets entered, and 5 different championship teams as follows:

DUKE- 4 picks
MEMPHIS- 3 picks
PITTSBURGH- 5 picks
NORTH CAROLINA- 1 pick
LOUISVILLE- 4 picks

Throughout the tournament we will provide the current 'Hall of Fame' brackets (i.e. top 3) and the 'Hall of Shame' brackets (i.e. bottom 3). Good luck to everyone and may your bracket not BUST this first weekend!

Let's Say Thanks...

2008-12-10T14:57:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine with a great blog of her own had this link on her site today...

Xerox (yes, the copy company) has created a website where people can select a thank-you card to send to the troops overseas. Xerox will print it and send it to a randomnly selected soldier.

It's free and it takes about 30 seconds. You select a card design, then choose the message y-ou want or create your own message. The only personal information you include is your name, city and state so the soldiers get an idea of all the people who are thinking about them. If you get a chance, please take the time to do this and encourage others to do the same. I hope we flood their mailboxes. We can never say enough thank you's to these brave men and women.

- Ann

Adios & Au Revoir

2008-11-13T07:55:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the fall TV season that viewers both fear and welcome- networks have begun to announce the shows that just can't hack it and are being canceled....

The ladies at InLine are in mourning this morning... our water cooler show, 'Lipstick Jungle', was canceled by NBC yesterday. Along with Lipstick, the network has also pulled the plug on the much-hyped 'My Own Worst Enemy' starring Christian Slater.

We knew the future wasn't great for 'Lipstick', especially when it moved to Fridays, which is often considered a dead zone for prime programming. Only 'Ghost Whisperer' and 'Numb3rs' on CBS have stood the test of time there. So, while the future was bleak, we still had high hopes. Unfortunately, the return of Andrew McCarthy was short-lived and is now over. After 'Cashmere Mafia' was canceled quickly last year, we needed 'Lipstick' to get our 'chick-dramedy' weekly fix. Now, sadly, our DVRs will all be a little less full...

Much more surprising to everyone will probably be the cancellation of 'Enemy'. It was considered an important show for the network; a big-name star, huge production budget, and great time slot on Monday night following 'Heroes'. Unfortunately, even this valuable hour of scheduling real estate couldn't save the show, especially as 'Heroes' ratings have dwindled too. Now, I never watched it (I'm more of an Andrew McCarthy fan than a Christian Slater one!) but apparently the premise was confusing and the plot never really took off. Hopefully NBC learns a lesson from this show, but who knows. Things don't look great for the network, especially for fall 2009 when they won't have ER to anchor their Thursday night lineup. It should be interesting...

In the late fringe time period, Fox announced that 'Mad TV' was being cancelled. A lot of news has been made about the triumphant return of 'Saturday Night Live' to big ratings thanks to endless Sarah Palin jokes (and a terrific Tina Fey!), and it looks like 'Mad' just couldn't hack it. I just wonder what the ratings are going to look like now for 'SNL' that the election is over...

More news to come soon but for now, one last gratuitous picture of Joe & Victory (Andrew McCarthy & Lindsey Price)!!

- Ann

InLine- InTouch & InTune

2008-11-06T13:38:00.001-08:00

Our first blog post! So exciting... we have decided to start an InLine Media blog to keep our clients, vendors, and anyone else who is interested informed of what is going on in our world and the media world in general. Thus the title- we are in touch AND in tune with what is going on!

We hope to provide you with interesting information; whether it adds to a water cooler conversation, helps you improve your business, or preferably both! Feel free to email any questions you may want addressed in a future post to any one of us- we're here to help and provide any relevant information about the media and advertising world we can!

Stay tuned...

- Ann