MillerCoors executives are thinking about new ad strategies as the NFL lockout hits its 88th day. The company is mulling college football promotions and Major League Baseball, to try and fill the gap for the brewer's biggest marketing season, say two company executives. "It's the single-biggest media expenditure," says one of the executives. "This is the time when [MillerCoors would] drop $40 million to $60 million in media, so where do you redeploy that? As a national property, nothing gets the ratings of the NFL." This also happens to be the first season in eight years that the …

Eli Lilly won a ruling in a lawsuit brought by Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The latter company sought to prevent Lilly from using the same sales force to sell Amylin's diabetes drug and that of a competitor. A federal judge in San Diego denied Amylin's request for a preliminary order that would have imposed restrictions on Lilly's diabetes sales force, the Indianapolis-based drugmaker said in a statement today. Amylin said Lilly's plans for marketing Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH's type 2 diabetes drug breached its agreement to develop and commercialize Amylin's competing drugs. Amylin said in a statement today it will pursue the …

This year, online advertising will hit $31.3 billion, a 20% growth from last year, according to eMarketer. The growth is being driven by display advertising spend, including banners, online video and sponsorships. The firm says U.S. advertisers will spend $12.33 billion on display ads alone this year, up nearly 25% from last year. Video ads are the fastest growing online format.

Citizens Financial Group is launching a video-banking pilot program that includes five branches in Massachusetts. The program includes face-to-face interaction with bank specialists.

Procter & Gamble will say goodbye to Charles "Chip" Bergh, group president of its global male-grooming business. He is retiring to find a job as a CEO of a major company. He departs in September. The division accounts for $30 billion of annual sales. Patrice Louvet, president, global prestige, which includes P&G fragrance brands, will succeed Bergh as group president of global male grooming. Joanne Crewes, global vice president of the SK-II skin care brand and P&G's female beauty brands in India, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, will be president of global prestige.

Heisman winner Tim Tebow is the new spokesperson and advertising talent for Jockey Staycool. The new underwear line is designed to regulate body temperature.

Is Cash-for-Clunkers back? With auto sales suddenly weakening, the Chinese government is mulling a new incentive program modeled on Cash-for-Clunkers, the U.S. program the Obama Administration launched during the recession to spur sales. The world's largest auto market posted a 14% decline last month versus April.

The market is huge, worth $743 billion, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered consumers over-index in categories like travel, automotive, and spirits. But will marketing to the segment "brand" a brand? What about right-side backlash fear? Columnist Andy Bagnall says such concerns are dwarfed by benefits. "First and foremost," he writes, "there has never been a successful boycott due to supporting or marketing to gay consumers." He points out that one conservative organization boycotted family-focused Disney for years because of Disney's outreach to gay customers. "All the while, Disney experienced rapid growth and profit. The boycotters eventually gave …

Cindy Starr has joined Smart Destinations as chief marketing officer. The company sells multi-attraction passes. Previously, she was EVP and managing director of One to One Interactive.

Effective immediately several top executives at Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Chrysler Group will get expanded roles and there will be a new Dodge car brand and U.S. sales operations czar, Reid Bigland. Bigland will also continue as president and chief executive officer of Chrysler Canada. Ralphe Gilles will no longer by run Dodge car brand operations, but will head up SRT (Street and Racing Technology) and motorsports. He will also continue on as design chief for Chrysler group brands.  Fred Diaz is now president and chief executive officer of Chrysler's Mexico operations, including Latin America. While he will continue as president …