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NBC Universal announced it will acquire popular online women's community iVillage for around $600 million. The company said iVillage "mirrors a key demographic of the NBC Universal audience - women," and will be integrating television, film, and home entertainment content.

Founded over a decade ago by Candice Carpenter, iVillage barely survived the dot-com bust with stock prices falling to under $1 per share in 2002. Since then, the New York-based Web community has clawed its way back to a covetous 14.5 million unique visitors, as of January.

In addition to parenting tips, celebrity gossip, fashion, love, and diet tips, iVillage also features content from Hearst Corp. magazines Cosmopolitan and Redbook. Hearst Corp. holds a 25% stake in iVillage after a merger that also included Women.com.

"As this transaction demonstrates, we are committed to delivering content to consumers through distribution systems both traditional and new," said Bob Wright, Vice Chairman and Executive Officer of General Electric and Chairman and CEO NBC Universal.

"Acquiring iVillage will enable us to bring our programming to a large and passionate online community."

The deal comes on the heals of News Corp.'s monumental purchases of Myspace.com parent company Intermix Media for $580 million and IGN Entertainment for $650 million.

We envision connecting more deeply online, on mobile and on demand with key consumers throughout their various life stages - from their unique interests to their finances to their health and well-being," said Beth Comstock, President, NBC Universal Digital Media and Market Development.

According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 86% of women ages 18 to 29 were online, compared with 80% of men in the same age group.

"This acquisition allows us to marry our on-air branded content with compelling new interactive functionality," added Jeff Zucker, Chief Executive Officer, NBC Universal Television Group. "From the 'Today Show' to 'Project Runway' to 'The Biggest Loser' to all the health & medical and lifestyles segments we do every day."

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Jason L. Miller is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.