Lights ... Camera ... Quacktion!

March 18, 2010 | 8:00 am

PR Newswire

COLUMBUS, Ga., March 18

COLUMBUS, Ga., March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the company that pays policyholders cash when they are sick or injured, is asking consumers to take the "10-Second Challenge," an online user-generated video contest that asks people to creatively explain Aflac's value in 10 seconds. Beginning today, people can submit their own descriptions of Aflac to Aflac.com/10seconds or on the Aflac Duck's Facebook page (facebook.com/AflacDuck).

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100318/CL72477 )

All videos will be reviewed before being posted on the two Internet sites. Visitors will vote on the videos they like best to determine the finalists before a panel of Aflac judges determine the winners chosen from the finalists. Entries will be accepted until April 18.

The creator of the winning video will receive $25,000, and three runners-up will receive $1,000 each.  All winners glide away with a custom You Don't Know Quack snowboard like the one seen in Aflac's latest television commercial in which a snowboarding Aflac Duck gives NASCAR driver Carl Edwards a mere 10 seconds to explain what Aflac does for consumers.  Edwards replies:  "If you get sick or hurt, Aflac pays you cash, fast, to help pay for things major medical doesn't, like car payments, mortgage and more."

"Our campaign challenges people to get to know quack, so it's only fair that we give them a forum to show us what they know," said Jeff Charney, Aflac senior vice president and chief marketing officer.  "We're looking forward to seeing how effectively and creatively people can convey the essence of Aflac in 10 seconds."

Aflac's "10 Seconds" television advertisement is part of Aflac's "You Don't Know Quack" campaign launched in January via billboards, print advertising, television and a variety of interactive and new media.  Aflac will advertise the "10-Second Challenge" online, on television and in print.

Aflac expects contestants to submit various types of expressions given the broad social media landscape, including limericks, songs, haikus, raps, skits, improvisations or whatever American creative minds can come up with in 10 Seconds. All legal residents of the 50 United States of America and Washington, D.C., 18 years or older may be eligible to participate.

To view or submit entries, watch the 10 Second television commercial, or read the rules for the 10-Second Challenge, contestants should visit Aflac.com/10Seconds or Facebook.com/AflacDuck.

About Aflac

When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For 55 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force. Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for three consecutive years and was also named by the Reputation Institute as the Most Reputable Company in the Global Insurance Industry for two consecutive years. In 2010, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the twelfth consecutive year. Fortune magazine also ranked Aflac No. 1 on its global list of the Most Admired Companies in the Life and Health Insurance category. Aflac was also named by Forbes magazine as America's Best-Managed Company in the Insurance category. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090422/CL03654LOGO )