HSW International and World Book, Inc. Announce Exclusive Content Partnership for China
23 September 2008 - 10:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
ATLANTA, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- HSW International, Inc.
(NASDAQ:HSWI), a developer and operator of Internet businesses
focused on providing consumers in the world's emerging digital
economies with locally relevant, high quality information, and
World Book, Inc., publishers of the world's best selling
encyclopedia that sets the standard for accurate, current and
reliable reference information, today announced an exclusive
digital content partnership for China. Over the next fifteen
months, World Book will create thousands of original
Chinese-language articles providing information on all branches of
knowledge, including arts, sciences, history, technology,
mathematics, sports, and recreation, exclusively for HSW
International's Beijing-based website, BoWenWang
(http://www.bowenwang.com.cn/), which in English means wide
learning and encyclopedia knowledge. Today's announcement is the
second significant content partnership for HSW International. The
Company's digital publishing platform is designed to enable the
rapid deployment and search-engine awareness of credible,
informational content. In October 2007, HSW International received
the exclusive digital publishing rights in China and Brazil for
translated content from HowStuffWorks.com, a division of Discovery
Communications. Already many of these articles and topics rank on
the first page of organic search results for their subject-matter
key words on the leading search engines in China and Brazil. This
allows the Company to attract an audience that has an identified
interest in any given topic, providing a valuable, pre-qualified
audience for advertisers. Leveraging this platform, the Company's
partnership with World Book provides a turn-key opportunity for
World Book to begin digitally publishing content in the world's
largest emerging market. "HSW International's dedication to
deploying quality information is a perfect fit with our commitment
to publishing the best in encyclopedic content," said Paul Gazzolo,
President of World Book. "This partnership is an excellent way for
audiences in China to gain access to the comprehensive and
authoritative content we will create exclusively for BoWenWang."
Gazzolo continued, "HSW International has the strength and know-how
to turn quality content into winning websites, allowing World Book
to stay focused on curriculum-based educational products for
schools and libraries." HSW International launched BoWenWang in
June 2008 as a Chinese-language website to provide high quality
knowledge-based content to China's Internet users, fulfilling both
information needs and curiosity. The quality and breadth of its
content provides a wealth of information for readers and drives
BoWenWang's high visibility in consumer searches, offering
compelling opportunities for marketers to engage with highly
targeted audiences. The site has published thousands of articles to
date, including content from HowStuffWorks.com which has been
translated and localized by BoWenWang's Beijing-based editorial
staff, and original content created for the Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games. World Book is the industry leader in authoritative and
engaging encyclopedias, reference sources, and the award-winning
World Book Web suite of digital products for schools and libraries.
For over 90 years, World Book has been committed to publishing
encyclopedias and other reference and education products that meet
the highest standards of editorial excellence while engaging the
minds of learners of all ages. World Book products are sold in
dozens of countries around the globe. "The addition of the content
created by World Book is another important step toward our goal of
BoWenWang becoming a leading platform for high-quality information
relevant to Chinese consumers and advertisers," said Gregory
Swayne, President and Chief Operating Officer of HSW International.
"This is the first time that Internet audiences in China will have
free access to a vast amount of wide ranging, authoritative
information from one of the world's most respected and credible
reference sources. Additionally, we hope to see BoWenWang become
one of the primary information destinations for the more-than 250
million students in China." The new material from World Book will
significantly increase the depth and breadth of content on
BoWenWang. World Book will provide content under the partnership
that is in compliance with China's laws and regulations. About HSW
International, Inc. 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'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 for the translation and publication of content
from HowStuffWorks.com, a subsidiary of Discovery Communications,
in China and Brazil. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta and
incorporated in Delaware. About World Book World Book, Inc. sets
the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable
reference and learning materials for students of all ages. Based in
Chicago, Illinois, World Book is committed to creating learning
materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence
while leveraging the advantages of online delivery. This commitment
has resulted in a wide range of products including the number-one
selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and the award-winning World
Book Web digital reference suite, including World Book Kids, and
the recently-launched World Book Advanced. World Book
(http://www.worldbook.com/) is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary
of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. 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: reliance
on third parties such as World Book for content; economic and
industry conditions specific to China and Brazil, such as the state
of the telecommunications and internet infrastructure in China and
Brazil and uncertainty regarding protection of intellectual
property in China and Brazil; challenges inherent in developing an
online business in 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
China; general industry conditions and competition; general
economic conditions, such as interest rate and currency exchange
rate fluctuations; and restrictions on certain intellectual
property under agreements with third parties. 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.
DATASOURCE: HSW International, Inc. CONTACT: HSW International
Investor Relations, +1-404-926-0660, ; or Rebecca Kogan, of Gavin
Anderson & Co., +1-212-515-1968, Web site:
http://www.bowenwang.com.cn/ http://www.worldbook.com/
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