About.com Expands Online Video Offerings

About.com, one of the largest Web sites for practical consumer information and advice, said Wednesday that it plans to expand its online video offerings over the next two months.

The Web site, which was bought March 2005 by The New York Times Co., said it started offering on Wednesday video programming on the topic of electronic gadgets. Technology reporter Brett Larson hosts the show.

This month and in March, the plans to offering video programming in health and home and garden, respectively.

About.com's expansion reflects a trend on Web sites of offering more video programming as an advertising vehicle for TV sports and branded product placements.

With the growing use of broadband, an increasing number of U.S. consumers are getting use to watching video on their computer screens, experts say. More than 94 million people, or 56 percent of the online U.S. population, have watched streaming video online, according to Web metrics firm ComScore Networks.