McDermott Handcrafted Cues to Introduce Advanced Woodburning Technology

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Advanced Wood Burning Technology Built into Blazing Performance Cues

Pool and billiard cue manufacturer McDermott Handcrafted Cues has introduced a line of cues with advanced wood burning technology.

MENOMONEE FALLS, WI.—October 10, 2008. McDermott Handcrafted Cues today launched the first in the Wildfire Series of cues, the exciting new Dream Catcher.. The cue showcases McDermott’s Advanced Wood Burning Technology capabilities.

“The new Dream Catcher is a great example of McDermott’s ongoing commitment to better performance and enhanced style,” says Larry Liebl, Vice President of McDermott. “I wanted to push the envelope in cue design with our exclusive 3-Dimensional Image Carving and 360 Degree Rotational Cutting, an industry first.”

The Wildfire Series cues are the creation of a Native American artist, who wants to convey stories through a series of designs inspired by Native American Indian folklore. The original artwork on each cue contains the Native American belief that the spirits are in nature and that everything in nature has a unique purpose with a story to tell.

As with all McDermott cues, the new Wildfire Series cues come standard with McDermott’s Lifetime Warranty, including warpage, and McDermott’s Free Lifetime Maintenance Program, which features a 10-Point Inspection, new tips and overall cue clean up, twice a year, for life.

The Dream Catcher will carry a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $229.  The cue will ship to retailers in the United States and the rest of the world starting on October 15, 2008.
W146 N9560 HELD DR. • MENOMONEE FALLS, WI • 53051 • PHONE: (800) 666-2283 • (262) 251-4090 FAX: (262) 251-9290 • EMAIL: SALES@MCDERMOTTCUE.COM • MCDERMOTTCUE.COM

Since 1975, McDermott Handcrafted Cues has consistently raised the performance standards for what billiard players expect from a high performance cue. McDermott builds billiard equipment for people who view playing pool as an end in itself, drawing on cutting-edge technology and tasteful yet aggressive design. McDermott equipment is rooted in performance, using the latest technology in a state-of-the-art facility and utilizing the finest materials available. For further information about McDermott Handcrafted Cues, please visit our website at Mcdermottcue.com.
CONTACT:
McDermott Handcrafted Cues
Nat Rosasco, 262-251-4090
SOURCE: McDermott Handcrafted Cues

AMI and Merit Create Game-Changing Advertising Medium

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AMI and Merit Create Game-Changing Ad Medium with the Launch of AMI MegaNet Interactive Digital Out-of-Home Advertising Network

AMI and Merit have created a new advertising medium with the launch of AMI MegaNet Interactive Digtial Out-of-Home Advertising Network.

AMI Entertainment, leading provider of music to digital downloading jukeboxes, and Merit Entertainment, market leader in coin-operated touchscreen video games announced today the launch of AMI MegaNet – the largest multi-media interactive out-of-home advertising network in the US.

AMI MegaNet, a joint venture between sister companies AMI and Merit and Chicago’s TAP.tv, provides place-based advertising capabilities across multiple broadband-connected digital screens in bars and restaurants across the country. “We’ve taken the best features of online marketing – interactivity and rich content - and combined them with the best feature of digital out-of-home – immediacy - to create an ad medium that we think works harder, dollar for dollar, than any other medium available,” said Mike Nickerson, VP of Advertising for AMI MegaNet.

Nickerson, who has spent nearly twenty years in advertising and marketing for brands like Absolut Vodka, Coors Light, Sony, and Motorola also stated, “There were a lot of start-ups in this space who rushed to market with really limited advertising platforms in a dozen or so locations and limited risk. With nearly 15,000 locations nationwide we decided to take our time and get the mix right so that consumers would embrace our ads instead of avoid them.”
Integrated “Advertainment”

AMI MegaNet seeks to go beyond the traditional model of place-based digital OOH of forcing ad messages onto a captive audience. By integrating brand messages into entertainment favorites in bars like video games, jukeboxes, and big screen high-def TV’s, AMI MegaNet is creating an “advertainment” experience that marketing-savvy consumers embrace. “We know why people go to bars and it isn’t to watch commercials. It was important to us that 21-44 year old adults seeking entertainment got what they were looking for,” said Nickerson. That’s why in addition to running full video ads on all screens, AMI MegaNet integrates brands directly into video game play and music selection and has the ability to create custom content TV channels for high-def TV’s. AMI MegaNet’s touchscreens also use their “Touch Through” technology to allow consumers to click through video ads to interact directly with advertiser microsites.

Networking the Most Popular Entertainment in Bars
In addition, AMI MegaNet decided it wasn’t enough to own the most broadband-connected screens (estimated at 38,000 in 2009). These screens needed to coordinate and “talk” to each other to make the delivery of brand messages even more effective. “In developing a real bar network, the key for us was the ability to coordinate different game, TV, and jukebox screens and cross promote,” said Tim Dorgan, President of TAP.tv. “Not only are our ads real “TV ads,” they are also coordinated across different screens to optimize reach. The machines can even cross-promote content so if a bar patron loses interest in one of our entertainment media, we can drive them to another with our rich content offerings.”

Three Content Platforms, One Network
• AMI (Grand Rapids, MI) – the high quality video jukebox content provider found in over 10,000 locations nationwide
• MEGATOUCH (owned by Merit, Bristol, PA) – the world’s leading brand name in casual touchscreen games with over 250,000 countertop units on-premise in bars and taverns globally with over 150 game titles
• TAP.tv (Burr Ridge, IL) – an advanced, IP-based narrowcasting TV technology
“We’re really excited about having TAP.tv as a key element of our network,” said Mike Maas, CEO of Merit and AMI. “TAP.tv isn’t just amazing high-def TV content, it’s an invention that helps bars manage all their in-house media while measuring every moment of screen time not only for TAP.tv, but for every other TV network a bar chooses to air on their system.”

TAP’s technology allows commercial establishments to completely customize television within their venues, effectively building their own independent TV network. TAP.tv goes well beyond digital signage. Instead of displaying pure ad content on a dedicated screen, TAP.tv’s technology works with any existing screen, fully integrating ads into compelling programming and content channels. Interactive applications, games, and event marketing - all are possible.

Building New Media for a New Era
“It’s no secret that advertising and marketing agencies are being increasingly held accountable for effectiveness (i.e. sales),” said Nickerson. “It’s our belief that by delivering a truly unique advertising medium that is both sticky and immediate, we will be a valuable asset to our advertising partners.”
About AMI Entertainment Inc. – AMI Entertainment Inc. is a leading provider of on-premise digital entertainment and promotions to taverns, restaurants and other public venues in the United States. The company maintains the AMI Entertainment Network, which powers more than 10,000 Internet enabled touchscreen jukeboxes that can operate over a variety of broadband connection devices. AMI is supported by the largest number of jukebox manufacturers, including world-renowned Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corp. and Rowe International Corp., as well as Merit Entertainment and View. AMI’s digital music is licensed by the major record labels, numerous independent labels, more than 1,500 music publishers, and the performing rights organizations ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. AMI’s music catalog consists of 500,000+ songs that can be easily searched and accessed remotely. Music is tailored for all listening demographics, including the coveted group of 21 to 35 year-olds. For more information, visit amientertainment.com.

About Merit Entertainment
For over 30 years, Merit has ensured long-term return on investment for operators by providing continually high-earning equipment along with regular updates and upgrades for its products. With an installed base of over 250,000 touchscreen games garnering nearly 4.6 billion plays per year, Merit Entertainment products appear globally in a wide array of venues and appeal to an almost limitless demographic. Merit continues to expand its position in the industry with ever-increasing entertainment, music, content, and new games. The company maintains a website with all the latest information at www.meritgames.com.

About TAP.tv
Chicago-based privately-held TAP.tv builds custom television networks for commercial establishments using a hybrid TV/Internet technology. TAP.tv combines patent-applied-for technology, licensed program content, and web-based tools to facilitate businesses easily managing their video resources and placing their own professional quality advertising on their own TV screens

Team Archer Decided at IPT Qualifier

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Gil Hernandez, Adam Smith, Mark Jarvis, Bobby Hunter, Matt Daiber and Bob Cozzolino all qualifed for Team Archer.

The International Pool Tour congratulates the week-two winners that qualified for Team Archer. Held at Palace Billiards in Villa Park, IL., the second qualifier for the IPT Pro-Am resulted in the following players qualifying for Team Archer:

Gil Hernandez
Adam Smith
Mark Jarvis
Bobby Hunter
Matt Daiber
Bob Cozzolino 

Check out the Team Archer tournament brackets

The Pro-Am Tournament is open to any competitor who places in the top six of a qualification tournament. There are fifteen remaining qualifier events- each corresponds with a top professional player. The top six finishers in each qualifier get teamed up with their pro for the main event. Although players compete as individuals, if they or anyone on their team wins the main event, they each win $6,000; the actual individual winner of the tournament wins $8,000. The total prize purse is $50,000.

Qualification events will be held throughout Chicagoland and there are two tournaments this weekend! The full schedule of qualification events is available online at www.internationalpooltour.com.
Entry fees are $85 in person, which includes a $5 greens fee for the host room. Members of the military, female players, children, anyone presenting their league membership card, or any online entrants pay only $75.
Extensive online coverage, including match stats, pictures, and streaming video of the main event, will be available at www.internationalpooltour.com.