The New York Times Co.'s overall ad revenue rose 1 percent, to $578.0 million, compared with $572.4 a year ago, but ad revenue from websites in its News Media Group, including nytimes.com and boston.com, increase 25 percent over the same period, reports ClickZ. NYT Co.'s online properties accounted for $66.1 million in revenue - consisting of ad revenue but also subscription and fee services income - up 35 percent from a year ago.

About.com's performance surpassed expectations, with a 62.7 percent surge, to $19.4 million in revenue - and an increase of operating profit to $7.3 million, from $2.5 million, in part as a result of a 22 percent increase in visitors.

Internet-based businesses now account for 7.7 percent of NYT Co.'s total revenue, compared with 5.8 percent in the same quarter a year ago.