DECA

PARENTSASK.COM - NEW WEB SERIES FEATURES PANELS OF PARENTING EXPERTS ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT RAISING CHILDREN
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Weekly Online Show and Web Site Features Leaders in Medicine, Psychology and Child Development
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Santa Monica, CA/New York, NY (October 29, 2009) — DECA (www.deca.tv), the digital media and entertainment company known for creating premium Web series and high-quality communities, announced today the launch of its latest brand – Parents Ask (www.ParentsAsk.com). The new Web series and site brings together the country’s leading pediatricians, authors, and psychologists to answer parents’ questions and give expert advice on raising a healthy family.

“Our Web series format brings together the high production value of TV and the active engagement of online communities,” said Michael Wayne, CEO of DECA. “We know that parents are looking online for answers to the tough questions about raising their kids, so we set out to bring together a panel of the top experts in the country. We created Parents Ask to directly connect parents with the most knowledgeable authorities on every parenting topic.”

“Parents Ask gives me a wonderful way to share what I’ve learned with mothers and fathers who are looking for advice on the best way to raise their children,” said Elizabeth Pantley, bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and Parents Ask Contributor. “It’s gratifying to be a part of such an amazing group of people who have spent their careers helping families, and to be part of such a helpful new resource for families.”

Parents Ask’s first episode takes on the hot topic of flu shots. The panel of experts included: Dr. Bob Sears, Dr. Tanya Altmann, and Dr. Scott Cohen who tackled the question: How effective are flu shots and are they safe for kids?

“I became a pediatrician to help kids and families,” said Parents Ask panelist Dr. Bob Sears. “Parents Ask provides an amazing platform for me; it gives me the opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise with moms and dads that I wouldn’t normally get to meet through my practice.”

Upcoming episodes include Circumcision Indecision: Making the Best Choice for Your Son, Three In A Bed: Co-Sleeping Pros & Cons, Colicky Baby: Comforting Your Fussy Infant, and Sex During Pregnancy: Enjoying Intimacy While Keeping Baby Safe.

“Through Parents Ask I am able to help and advise many more parents than I can reach in my daily practice, seminars, and parenting groups,” said Parents Ask Contributor Betsy Brown Braun. “I think it is particularly great for parents to be able to hear a variety opinions and approaches all in one sitting. After all, there is not one right way to parent. It has to work for you.”

The full list of Parents Ask contributors include:
• Dr. Tanya Remer Altmann, M.D
• Lisa Belkin
• Betsy Brown Braun
• Scott Cohen, M.D.
• Dr. Ann Corwin, Ph.D
• Foster Cline, M.D.
• Eli Davidson
• Keith Eddleman, M.D.
• Robert J. MacKenzie, Ph.D
• Ron Mathews
• Elizabeth Pantley
• Joan Rice
• Robert W. Sears M.D.
• Joanne Stern Ph.D
• Joanne Stone, M.D.
• Bonnie Zucker, Psy.D.
• Monica Vila

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ABOUT DECA

DECA (Digital Entertainment Corporation of America) was founded in 2007 to create a new model for the online entertainment experience. By identifying, funding, marketing and distributing next-generation digital content, DECA has become one of the leading players in shaping the future of entertainment. With its unique philosophy of recognizing and nurturing personalities and properties distinctive to the digital community, DECA stands alone in the industry by supporting content ‘of the web, by the web, and for the web.’ Headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, the company was founded by Michael Wayne and Chris Kimbell, who previously held senior roles at Sony Pictures, ABC, and Yahoo! Music. DECA is funded by Mayfield, General Catalyst, Rustic Canyon, and Atomico.

Among its current properties are:

• Smosh , http://smosh.com

o Currently the third most subscribed YouTube channel of all time, Smosh is sketch comedy for teens and young adults by 20-year-olds Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox. With more than 230 million views, Smosh videos have become a pop culture phenomenon. Their site, Smosh.com, features video extras, robust forums, and a growing community of more than 400,000 registered members, who contribute to more than five million page views each month.

• Momversation, http://www.momversation.com

o Momversation is an online video series and website that brings together the web’s most outspoken moms to discuss the topics that matter to them. Momversation is hosted by a rotating cast of eight influential mom-bloggers including Heather Armstrong of dooce and Daphne Brogdon of Cool Mom. The community can also “join the momversation” by posting comments and participating in forums.

• Good Bite, http://goodbite.com

o Good Bite brings together America’s most popular food bloggers for online video discussions about cooking. Each episode of Good Bite makes delicious food easy, providing accessible recipes and solutions for home cooks. The Good Bite website is focused on finding the very best in food online and sharing it with users.

• Project Lore, http://projectlore.com

o Bringing together five dudes, four cameras, and the one and only World of Warcraft, Project Lore is all about putting the best multimedia MMORPG game guides in one place. The site also features a daily video show and a blog about all things WoW. Led by online video star Alex Albrecht, the show follows the progress of a group of level 70 players.

More information can be found at www.deca.tv.

For More Information about ParentsAsk or DECA, please contact:
Rubenstein Communications, Inc.
Adam Isserlis, (212) 843-8024 or aisserlis@rubenstein.com
Carolyn Nurnberg, (212) 843-9316 or cnurnberg@rubenstein.com

The ad market for original online video has been hit hard of late by the recession and an oversaturated market.

But the online video startup firm Deca has scored a spate of successes—particularly with traditional brands—by focusing on aggregating and nurturing grassroots Web talent. The company has unveiled a branded entertainment video program for General Mills’ Betty Crocker on its recently launched property Good Bite, as well as a new service-oriented parenting site called Parents Ask.

A phony commercial for a liquidized beef product was just what the world craved in 2008. The number 6 spot on the year’s popularity chart goes to “Beef ‘n Go,” the tasty ad created by video humor site Smosh. The commercial spoof was received so enthusiastically that it spin off its own follow-up video featuring a full Beef ‘n Go theme song.

With just over 12 million views, the guys from Smosh answered the long-standing question: Where’s the beef? (It’s in a plastic tube. Yum.)

About a year ago, I discussed different strategies for making video ads go viral. Since then, most agencies and brands have gone beyond the one-hit-wonder viral video craze, and are now looking to create richer, deeper, online brand content experiences.

A lot has happened over the past year. New digital studios like Deca…have consistently put out great new original programs. Despite the economic turmoil, brands have become a lot less timid about partnering with content creators. And, above all, new distribution technologies and measurement companies are helping to make everything a bit more manageable.

CNN’s Don Lemon and some cost-cutting moms discuss ways to help kids understand the tough economic times.

The good people at Apple’s iTunes have released their annual top-seller and best of lists for 2008…Unlike last year’s YouTube list of most memorable videos, whose honorees were chosen via a mysterious “formula” that took into consideration “view counts, most shared, most discussed, top rated, and general popularity,” Apple doesn’t let you know how these programs made it on the lists.

2008

Project Lore - DECA (YouTube Subscribers: 572)

Apple (AAPL) released the iTunes top-seller and best-of lists for 2008 this week…Making the cut this year are:

2008

Project Lore - Deca