Yahoo continues its adventurous ways by generating more original content intended to differentiate it from rivals Google, MSN and AOL and expand its already large - the online world's largest - audience; it has hired author and film director Richard Bangs to create multimedia packages about exotic and sometimes dangerous expeditions around the world, reports the Associated Press.

Bangs's initial effort, a five-part serial, debuted Monday and revolves around a climb up the Eiger, the Swiss peak featured in the Clint Eastwood's "The Eiger Sanction." Bangs plans to present other adventures about once a month.

"We are trying to define the next generation of Internet media," said Scott Moore, Yahoo's vice-president of content.

Yahoo attracted 99.3 million users during September in the U.S., compared with MSN's 89.4 million , Google's 79.4 million, and AOL's 72.5 million, according to Nielsen. All four are battling to attract more traffic to increase their advertising revenue.