Best Contests & Deals of 2011

In December 2011, we unveiled the best contests and deals of 2011 in our top categories. It was a tough decision as there were so many partners who excelled using UPICKEM and Deadline Deals this year.

See below for our winners in each category.

If you missed the webinar, watch a recording of the presentation.

Congrats to all our winners!

Best Sweeps Contest: WSAZ-TV’s (Charleston, West Virginia) Umbrella Giveaway
Here are the two finalists:

• The Dallas Morning News‘s (Dallas, Texas) Win Tickets to the Superbowl
• Boys’ Life Magazine‘s (Irving, Texas) Nintendo 3DS Giveaway

Best Services Deal: Billings Gazette‘s (Billings, Montana) CARNU Auto Detailing Center
Here are the two finalists:

• Tri-City Herald‘s (Tri-Cities, Washington) King Lasik
• The News Tribune‘s (Tacoma, Washington) Classy Chassis

Best Sports Contest: WKYT-TV’s (Lexington, Kentucky) Race for the Cup
Here are the four finalists:

• KFMB-TV’s (San Diego, California) Bracket Buster
• The Wichita Eagle‘s (Wichita, Kansas) Pro Football Contest
• WRAL-FM’s (Raleigh, North Carolina) ACC Bracket
• Journal Sentinel‘s (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Packers Gforce

Best Beauty Deal: KTUU-TV’s (Anchorage, Alaska) Allure Day Spa & Hair Design
Here are the two finalists:

• WCAX-TV’s (Burlington, Vermont) Stephen & Burns
• Arkansas Democrat-Gazette‘s (Little Rock, Arkansas) Indulgences by Body Bronze

Best Bracket Contest: The Day‘s (New London, Connecticut) Pizza Playoff
Here are the three finalists:

• Portland Press Herald‘s (Portland, Maine) High School Basketball Tournament
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch‘s (St. Louis, Missouri) Mound City Madness
• KBZT-FM’s (San Diego, California) March Music Madness

Best Retail Deal: The Fresno Bee‘s (Fresno, California) Herb Bauer Sporting Goods
Here are the two finalists:

• Las Vegas Review Journal‘s (Las Vegas, Nevada) Lee’s Discount Liquor
• Northwest Herald‘s (Crystal Lake, Illinois) Joseph’s Marketplace

Best Video Contest: WDCW-TV’s (Washington, D.C.) DC50 Talent Search
Here are the two finalists:

• KUTV-TV’s (Salt Lake City, Utah) Mary Poppins Student Drama Competition
• WRAZ-TV’s (Durham, North Carolina) Lip Dub Project

Best Event Deal: Daily Herald‘s (Provo, Utah) Stadium of Fire
Here are the two finalists:

• The Washington Post‘s (Washington, D.C.) Zoofari
• The Wichita Eagle‘s (Wichita, Kansas) INTRUST Bank Arena

Best Facebook Contest: KUSI-TV’s (San Diego, California) Aloha Sweepstakes
Here are the two finalists:

• WISH-TV’s (Indianapolis, Indiana) Colts Ticket Giveaway
• Toronto Sun‘s (Toronto, Ontario) Win a Trip to Daytona

Note: We cannot show these contests on Facebook as they have ended and been taken down.

Best Restaurant Deal: St. Louis Post-Dispatch‘s (St. Louis, Missouri) Texas Roadhouse
Here are the two finalists:

• WCAX-TV’s (Burlington, Vermont) Three Tomatoes Trattoria
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch‘s (St. Louis, Missouri) Bartolino’s

Best Photo: KOB-TV’s (Albuquerque, New Mexico) Lucky Dog
Here are the six finalists:

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s (Atlanta, Georgia) Mother Daughter Lookalike
• The Colorado Springs Gazette‘s (Colorado Springs, Colorado) Quintessential Colorado
• KTLA-TV’s (Los Angeles, California) Valentine’s Week Giveaway
• Altus Times‘ (Altus, Oklahoma) Cutest Kids Contest
• The San Diego Union-Tribune‘s (San Diego, California) Scared of Santa
• The Statesboro Herald‘s (Statesboro, Georgia) Cutest Trick’r Treater

Best Recreation Deal: Lake County Journal‘s (Lake County, Illinois) Key Lime Cove
Here are the two finalists:

• WCAX-TV’s (Burlington, Vermont) Sugarbush
• The Miami Herald‘s (Miami, Florida) Seaquarium

Best Big Giveaway: WGN-TV’s (Chicago, Illinois) Royal Wedding
Here are the four finalists:

• The San Diego Union-Tribune‘s (San Diego, California) Carefree Vacations
• WKLH-FM’s (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Switchin’s Kitchens
• WPRO-FM’s (Riverside, Rhode Island) Live Rent Free
• KTLA-TV’s (Los Angeles, California) Win a Cruze

Best Travel Deal: The Washington Post‘s (Washington, D.C.) The Homestead
Here are the two finalists:

• Madison.com’s (Madison, Wisconsin) Sundara Inn & Spa
• Quad-City Times‘ (Davenport, Iowa) The Lodge Hotel

Best Small Market Partner – UPICKEM: KFDM-TV (Beaumont, Texas)
Here are the 2 finalists:

• KSBY-TV (San Luis Obispo, California)
• KSNF-TV (Joplin, Missouri)

Best Small Market Partner – Deadline Deals: Herald & Review (Decatur, Illinois)
Here are the two finalists:

• WEEK-TV (Peoria, Illinois)
• KTUU-TV (Anchorage, Alaska)

Best Medium Market – UPICKEM: The Day (New London, Connecticut)
Here are the two finalists:

• KY3-TV (Springfield, Missouri)
• KAZR-FM (Des Moines, Iowa)

Best Medium Market – Deadline Deals: WCAX-TV (Burlington, Vermont)
Here are the two finalists:

• KY3-TV (Springfield, Missouri)
• Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa)

Best Large Market Partner – UPICKEM: Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Here are the two finalists:

• The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida)
• WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Best Large Market Partner – Deadline Deals: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri)
Here are the two finalists:

• The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri)
• The Washington Post (Washington, D.C.)

Best Major Market Partner – UPICKEM: The San Diego Union-Tribune (San Diego, California)
Here are the two finalists:

• KTLA-TV (Los Angeles, California)
• WXYZ-TV (Detroit, Michigan)

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Best Promotion:

The Washington Post‘s Papa John’s Promotion