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As announced in the Sharecare press release today, which is attached to this release, in addition to Dr. Oz the initial list of content contributors answering the questions of health include leading hospitals, best-selling health and wellness authors, prestigious health professional associations, individual healthcare professionals, online healthcare resources, not for profits and individual consumers.
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HSW International and the other co-founders of Sharecare each hold minority equity positions in the company. Additionally, HSW International has entered into a service agreement with Sharecare to develop the company's Web 3.0 platform and site, leveraging HSWI's expertise in online content platforms. The Sharecare website will be a highly searchable social Q&A platform, backed by a comprehensive information architecture that creates and organizes the questions of health. HSW International and other founding partners have the license to use this platform to develop businesses in other content categories.
HSW International developed and launched Sharecare's initial Q&A content located at http://ask.doctoroz.com, which features a subset of the initial questions and answers from Sharecare and its content partners. The comprehensive Sharecare platform is planned for launch on www.Sharecare.com in 2010.
"HSW International's technology development and content management role in Sharecare allows us to leverage our deep experience in developing popular content and social destinations to create a Web 3.0 platform for the US health market where consumers need a more effective and efficient way to navigate the vast array of content available on the Web, and seek guidance through the assistance of experts and peers," said Greg Swayne, Chief Executive Officer of HSW International. "We are optimistic about the revenue opportunities created by our arrangement to serve as Sharecare's lead development partner, as well as the value of our equity in Sharecare."
As part of the transactions, HSW International transferred its Daily Strength business to Sharecare. Daily Strength is one of the largest peer to peer support group sites on the Web today. This acquisition gives Sharecare immediate access to Daily Strength's established social network of people who have an interest in asking and answering health-related questions, including medical professionals and health care consumers.
HSW International is filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC today, which contains more detailed information about these transactions with Sharecare. The Report will be available on HSW International's corporate website at www.hswinternational.com, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
HSW International previously announced the September 28, 2009, promotion of Gregory Swayne to CEO. Mr. Swayne has been HSW International's President and Chief Operating Officer since October 2007. Prior to joining HSW International in 2006, Mr. Swayne led HowStuffWorks, Inc., which has since been acquired by Discovery Communications, as President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Swayne was the co-founder and President of publicly-listed A.D.A.M., Inc., a Web-based health content and health information services company, and its predecessor Medical Legal Illustrations, Inc.
About HSW International, Inc.
HSW International, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSWI) develops and operates Internet businesses focused on providing consumers with locally relevant, high quality information. The Company's leading brands BoWenWang (bowenwang.com.cn) and ComoTudoFunciona (hsw.com.br) provide readers in China and Brazil with thousands of articles about how the world around them works, serving as destinations for credible, easy-to-understand reference information. HSW International is the exclusive licensee in China and Brazil for the publication of translated content from HowStuffWorks.com, a subsidiary of Discovery Communications. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta and incorporated in Delaware.
About Sharecare, Inc.
Sharecare Inc., created by Jeff Arnold and Dr. Mehmet Oz, in partnership with Harpo Productions, HSW International, Sony Pictures Television, and Discovery Communications, is a highly searchable social Q&A healthcare platform organizing and answering the questions of health. The company's innovative approach is designed to provide a wide array of expert answers to each question ranging from hospitals to MDs to non-profits to healthcare companies to active health consumers, ultimately creating a community where healthcare knowledge is built, shared and put into practice.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1993, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be in the future tense, and often include words such as "anticipate", "expect", "project", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "intend", "will" and "may". These statements are based on current expectations, but are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond the control of HSW International. Relevant risks and uncertainties include those referenced in HSW International's filings with the SEC, and include but are not limited to: successfully developing and launching the Sharecare platform; reliance on third parties such as Sharecare and its other founders and contributors; restrictions on intellectual property under agreements with Sharecare and third parties; challenges inherent in developing an online business; reliance on key personnel; risks of business in foreign countries, notably China and Brazil, including obtaining regulatory approvals and adjusting to changing political and economic policies; governmental laws and regulations, including unclear and changing laws and regulations related to the internet sector in foreign countries, especially China; and general industry conditions and competition; general economic conditions, such as advertising rate, interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements, and therefore should be carefully considered. HSW International assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law.
Press Release by Sharecare, Inc. Follows:
Dr. Mehmet Oz and Internet Entrepreneur, Jeff Arnold, Announce Sharecare Inc., a Web 3.0 Platform, Organizing and Answering the Questions of Health
Sharecare Co-founders also Include Discovery Communications, Harpo Productions, Sony Pictures Television, and HSW International
Prestigious Content Contributors Include Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Michael Roizen, Deepak Chopra, Dr. Dean Ornish, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and leading publishers Simon & Schuster, Harmony Books, and HarperCollins Publishers
Sharecare to Offer Innovative Sponsorships called "Knowledge Partners", Dove is Inaugural Partner Providing Branded Skincare Related Answers
(Atlanta, GA - November 2, 2009) - WebMD founder and Discovery Communications' Chief of Global Digital Strategy (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), Jeff Arnold, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, a leading cardiac surgeon, health expert and host of "The Dr. Oz Show," announced today the launch of Sharecare, Inc., the first healthcare platform for consumers to ask, learn and act on the questions of health. Sharecare's additional co-founders include, Discovery Communications, Harpo Productions, HSW International (Nasdaq: HSWI), and Sony Pictures Television.
"Sharecare's vision is to build an ecosystem that simplifies the search for health and wellness information by organizing all of the questions of health and providing multiple answers representing different points of view. Our contributors will range from renowned celebrity physicians to acclaimed hospitals of excellence to best selling authors to local caregivers to online healthcare consumers," said Jeff Arnold, who has taken an expanded role at Discovery as Chief of Global Digital Strategy and HowStuffWorks.com Chairman Emeritus, in addition to becoming Chairman and Chief Architect of Sharecare. "Leveraging the power of social networking, our contributors 'share care' through both personal experience and expert knowledge, bringing online healthcare into the 21st Century."
HSW International is developing Sharecare Inc.'s customizable social QA platform, which is built on a comprehensive information architecture. The platform features social and portability tools which will shift the paradigm for interaction between professional and consumer content and seamlessly extend the content experience to other websites.
A subset of the initial questions and answers powered by Sharecare and its expert content contributors is now available in the "Ask Dr Oz section" on www.doctoroz.com, the website of "The Dr. Oz Show," a nationally syndicated daily series co-produced by Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television. Since the launch of "The Dr. Oz Show," Dr. Oz has been receiving thousands of requests daily from people who want his advice and information on their health questions. Dr. Oz is creating a coalition of expert doctors, hospitals and practitioners, all of whom will work together to answer viewers' health questions - creating an even stronger connection between "The Dr. Oz Show" and its viewers. The comprehensive platform is expected to launch on www.Sharecare.com in 2010.
"There is an unprecedented need for accurate, useful and diversified medical information," said Mehmet Oz, M.D. "I have one hour a day with our national television audience but the care of health is a 24 hour, 365 day phenomenon. With Sharecare, we have created a resource that invites everyone from experts to new moms to share valuable insights about our mind, body and soul and with this information comes a combined IQ on health that is greater than the sum of its parts. We invite everyone to join us in building this collective wisdom."
"We are excited to partner in the launch of this ground-breaking, new healthcare platform as it directly aligns with Discovery's strategy of delivering information-based, high-quality content while also strengthening our long-term partnership with Harpo Productions," said Bruce Campbell, President, Digital Media and Corporate Development, Discovery Communications.
Initial Content Contributors
Providing information and resources to answer the questions of health, the initial powerhouse of content providers includes:
Innovative Business Model - The "Knowledge Partner"
As part of Sharecare's unique business model, answers are also provided by "Knowledge Partners," private sector sponsoring companies that have compiled substantial research through product development, pharmaceutical and medical device discovery, or consumer product development. This unique engagement allows a brand to develop a direct relationship with consumers by transparently participating in the conversations of health, as opposed to simply purchasing a traditional banner ad.
Sharecare's inaugural "Knowledge Partner" is Dove, the global beauty brand, which is providing thousands of answers specific to the topic of skin care. Dove's expertise stems from its 50+ year heritage as a leader in research and breakthrough skin care technologies.
Both websites, www.doctoroz.com and www.sharecare.com, are represented exclusively by Sony Pictures Television Advertiser Sales, which also sells the inventory in "The Doctor Oz Show."
ABOUT SHARECARE
Sharecare Inc., created by Jeff Arnold and Dr. Mehmet Oz, in partnership with Harpo Productions, HSW International, Sony Pictures Television, and Discovery Communications, is a highly searchable social QA healthcare platform organizing and answering the questions of health. The company's innovative approach provides a wide array of expert answers to each question ranging from hospitals to MDs to non-profits to healthcare companies to active health consumers ultimately creating a community where healthcare knowledge is built, shared and put into practice.
Sharecare was represented in this transaction by Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.
ABOUT DISCOVERYDiscovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.ABOUT HARPO
Harpo Productions, Inc. produces the number-one-rated, award-winning The Oprah Winfrey Show; creates and develops original TV programming for primetime, syndication and cable television; and operates Oprah.com (www.oprah.com), a premier lifestyle website. ZoCo Productions, LLC, an affiliate of Harpo Productions, Inc., and Sony Pictures Television co-produce "The Dr. Oz Show." Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine publication. Harpo Films produces feature films and, through an exclusive deal with HBO, scripted television programming. Harpo Radio, Inc. produces Oprah Radio (XM channel 156, Sirius channel 195 as part of its "Best of XM" package) on Sirius XM Radio. A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a multi-platform company, will debut in 2010 in more than 70 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.
ABOUT HSW INTERNATIONAL
HSW International, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSWI) develops and operates Internet businesses focused on providing consumers in the world's emerging digital economies with locally relevant, high quality information. The Company, which is headquartered in Atlanta and incorporated in Delaware, currently operates businesses in China, Brazil and the United States.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES TELEVISION
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leading producer of local language scripted and non-scripted programming. SPT also sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio, which includes branded networks AXN, Sony Entertainment Television, and Animax, is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 119 channel feeds available in more than 130 countries, reaching almost 400 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT is a part owner of cable channel GSN, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States, and for Sony Music Entertainment. SPT ("http://www.sonypicturestelevision.com" www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.
For Further Information: HSW International Investor Relations telephone: +1 (404) 926-0660 email: [email protected] or Adam Davis Kreab Gavin Anderson telephone: +1 212 515 1911 email: [email protected]
SOURCE HSW International, Inc.
