The New York Times Company on Thursday reported that its About.com, internet sites for newspapers and TV stations, and digital archives accounted for $62.2 million - or 7.5 percent - of its first-quarter revenue, writes MediaPost. In the year-ago quarter, those web-related revs totaled $36.1 million, or 4.5 percent of the quarter's revenue.

About.com, acquired from Primedia in March 2005 for $410 million, accounted for $18.18 million in first-quarter revenue. Excluding About, NYT Co's internet -based revenue increased 23.9 percent compared with 1Q05.

Overall ad revenue increased 3.9 percent to $554.6 million, much of it - $307.8 million - from the New York Times Media Group (including the New York Times and International Herald Tribune; the Regional Media Group (including the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa) $96 million.

"Our advertising results in March were bolstered by particularly strong growth in classified real estate advertising," said Janet L. Robinson, president and CEO. "Both print and online real estate advertising posted solid double-digit gains across the News Media Group."

Advertising revenues for About.com increased 81 percent in March and 94 percent year to date. March increases were principally due to strong growth in cost-per-click advertising, the company said, adding that growth in display advertising continued with increased revenues from the telecommunications, entertainment, technology and retail ad categories.