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DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND, LIFE-LONG LEARNING MARKETPLACE - CURIOSITY.COM

January 14, 2014

Contact - Amber Harris
Vice President, Communications & Social Media
240-662-5235
Contact - Kate Delmonico
Manager, Communications & Social Media
240-662-6513

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Amber Harris, 240-662-5235

January 14, 2014

           amber_harris@discovery.com

 

 

                  Kate Delmonico, 240-662-6513

                  kate_delmonico@discovery.com

 

 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND,

LIFE-LONG LEARNING MARKETPLACE - CURIOSITY.COM

 

- Digital Destination Connects Users with the Internet's Most Complete Source of Curated, Learning-Based Content with 100,000+ Courses, Classes & Tutorials from Dozens of Partners -

 

Chicago, Ill. - Discovery Communications announces the launch of Curiosity.com, a consumer-centered online marketplace that aggregates and organizes the best learning-based content from across the web. Curiosity.com expands upon Discovery's educational DNA and affords online users the opportunity to explore their passions and discover new interests through an expanding collection of digital content that includes more than 100,000 courses, classes and tutorials at launch from dozens of trusted partners, including Big Think, Coursera, Craftsy, Khan Academy, Udacity and Udemy.  

 

Conceived, incubated and developed exclusively by Discovery, Curiosity.com is the company's latest investment in the education space, adding to current learning-focused assets that include Discovery Education, the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, Discovery's Series D financing of Lumosity, a leading brain training and neuroscience research company, and an investment in Learnist, a new platform developing a community-based approach to learning. Curiosity.com focuses on aggregating and organizing experiences designed specifically to exchange knowledge, making it easier for individuals to explore and discover content that fuels curiosity and learning.

 

"The web is changing the way people are able to learn, with vast amounts of exceptional learning-based content being created every day. Curiosity.com leverages technology to sort through the clutter of the Internet and connect knowledge-seekers with high-quality knowledge sources," said Gabe Vehovsky, founder of Curiosity.com. "We created Curiosity.com as a marketplace to bring together the best of that content, making it easier for users to find, filter and track online learning experiences that meet their individual needs, helping people around the world leverage the web to learn."

 

The online platform includes content that spans a wide range of topics and formats - everything from inspiring talks from renowned experts and college courses to how-to classes and hobbyist content. Whether users want to develop new skills, brush up on existing interests or simply learn new knowledge nuggets, Curiosity.com was developed with life-long learners in mind. Users can narrow their search through the use of categories, such as Art & Design, Business, Languages and Technology, and receive personalized content recommendations based on their Spark Quiz results. Visitors also can choose to browse trending content among Curiosity.com learners, save and share interesting content or allow the system to randomly choose content for them with the Surprise Me feature.

 

"We are delighted to work with Discovery and Curiosity.com to reach even more learners with Coursera's high-quality courses from more than 100 of the best universities around the world," said Daphne Koller, Co-Founder, Coursera. "Coursera and Curiosity.com share a mission to enable anyone, anywhere to learn something new."

 

"Udemy and Discovery Communications share a common dedication to creating meaningful learning opportunities, whether online via desktop or mobile," added Dennis Yang, President and COO, Udemy. "We're thrilled to offer Udemy's online courses through Curiosity.com, allowing millions of learners to connect their passions and skills with rich and engaging educational content."

 

"By featuring content for makers available across our best-in-class interactive platform, Craftsy and Curiosity.com will create new ways for people to discover and engage with our content," said John Levisay, CEO, Craftsy.

 

Sample courses accessible through Curiosity.com include:

 

  • Sports and Society: A Duke course featured on Coursera, explore the role of sports in society and the larger questions of money, politics, race, sex, culture and commercialization
  • Richard Branson Imagines the Future: From Big Think, find out about the British entrepreneur's plan to populate outer space
  • How Nanotechnology Will End Diseases: Via the AOL On Network, Ray Kurzweil - inventor, author and futurist - talks about how robotic red blood cells will aid in ending disease
  • iPhone Photography Pro: A series of 33 individual lectures make up this Udemy course that teaches you how to apply professional photography techniques using an iPhone
  • Building Flavorful Soups: A seven-part lesson plan from Craftsy teaches you how to transform everyday ingredients into an endless variety of soups to please every palate

 

Launching as a beta offering, Curiosity.com will continue to expand its index of learning assets through new partnerships with additional learning-based content creators, more tools and functionality to foster a learning experiences, dedicated mobile apps and further enhancements to community and social features. Life-long learners are invited to feed their curiosity at Curiosity.com, which is optimized for mobile, tablet and desktop devices.

 

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 2 billion cumulative subscribers in over 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through more than 190 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and The Hub. Across the Nordic region, Discovery owns and operates SBS Discovery Media, a top-three portfolio of television brands that feature leading nonfiction content, as well as locally produced entertainment programs, sports and the best scripted series and movies from major studios. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

 

About Craftsy

Craftsy is the preeminent online destination for passionate makers to learn, create and share. With classes in quilting, sewing, knitting, cake decorating, art, photography, cooking and many more categories, over two million makers are taking their skills to new heights alongside the world's best instructors. Craftsy's online classes combine top-quality content, anytime convenience and the intimacy of an in-person experience. Members of the Craftsy community - whether neighbors or makers across the globe - inspire and support each other with ideas, tips and positive feedback along the way. For more information, visit www.craftsy.com.

 

About Coursera

Coursera believes in connecting people to a great education so that anyone around the world can learn without limits. Coursera is on a mission to educate millions of people by offering classes from top universities and organizations online for free. Coursera's comprehensive education platform combines mastery-based learning principles with video lectures, interactive content and a global community of peers, offering students a unique online learning experience. Coursera has partnered with top-tier universities and organizations to provide courses across a broad range of disciplines, including medicine, literature, history, computer science and the arts, among others. Coursera is backed by leading venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and New Enterprise Associates. For more information, visit Coursera.org.

 

About Udemy

Udemy helps anyone learn practically anything. Our unique marketplace approach gives students and instructors the freedom to define their own path. From the mainstream to the esoteric, Excel to wall yoga, we have a course - and instructor - that's right for you. We also let you try before you buy with free 5-minute previews. And we have a money-back guarantee. Tens of thousands of courses. Interesting and knowledgeable instructors. An easy online experience. Join the millions of others who have already taken a step toward a better tomorrow.

 

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