About.com reports quarterly loss

Internet media company About.com has reported a fourth-quarter loss, excluding noncash compensation, goodwill amortization and merger related costs, of $4.1 million, or 21 cents per share, on revenues of $34.2 million. Analysts had expected a loss of 8 cents per share, according to First Call. That compares with a loss of $8.3 million, or 57 cents per share, on revenues of $13 million in the same period in 1999. In October, About.com announced it would merge with Primedia; the deal is expected to close at the end of the month.