Hey all! It's been a while (Ten weeks, three days, twenty-two hours, twenty-seven minutes, and forty-four seconds, to be precise.) since my last blog entry, and it's been almost a month since the turn of the year, so I figure it's high time for a blog entry updating you on current statusy things.

As you know, we're taking a break from the Malex Minute and from Contradictionary this spring. As of a week or so ago, writing for Malex Minute Quarter Sixteen was complete. We've already had a bunch of great recording sessions, and the last recording session for Malex Minute Quarter Sixteen is scheduled for next month. Production on Contradictionary is also finishing up, with Peter doing an incredible job balancing all of his miscellaneous responsibilities here with a full time school schedule.

So the hiatus is upon us. But that's not where things end! Keep reading…

What will things look like when we come back?

I've heard that some people are worried we'll convert to a pay site. Please allow me to put that rumor to bed: We are definitely not planning to charge for access to any part of the site.

Instead, our goal is to launch a new site called Markley Bros. Entertainment, where we will feature the Malex Minute, Contradictionary, and other stuff. That new site will depend on all of you to rabidly spread the word using your favorite social networks, and it will be completely ad-supported.

Again, not a pay site. We are hoping and praying that ad revenue from the site will cover the large costs of running the site itself.

We think that this site, the Malex Media Network,® will continue to be the home page / blog for our production company. However, it will be losing some serious weight in the transition. (Get on that treadmill and run, MalexMedia.Net!)®

What do things look like now?

The coding for the new site is over 80% complete. The designs (from way back when) are starting to really come together, and I have a prototype running on my netbook.

At the same time, we continue filming and ramping up new animation production for the stuff we plan on launching when we return from the hiatus. We have the tools, we have the talent, we are sparing no expense.

So things look good.

When should I expect to see things?

As noted above, we're building the new site now. Expect to see an announcement and a “public beta” near the beginning of the hiatus. This will include shake-ups and spots of down time for all Malex Media Network sites and services. (And not everything will come back online!)

We're working on a video documentary about the Malex Minute which we hope to release some time mid-hiatus.

We also hope to release a trailer for our newest show some time near the end of the hiatus.

We are also planning to have a massive, massive party to celebrate the summer launch some time mid-May. (This is a huge topic and it deserves its own page. Please see my other new blog entry for information and discussion about that.)

How can I stay in the loop as this situation develops?

Please subscribe to our feed and / or follow @malexmedia and @markleybros on Twitter. We plan on continuing to expand our social networking presence into other venues, but for now these are the ways you can stay in the loop.