Search engine AltaVista
Co. and online healthcare content provider HealthCentral.com Thursday
formed a strategic content alliance valued at $65 million.
HealthCentral.com will offer its health and medical information to
start-up AltaVista’s Health Channel, which is scheduled to be part of
AltaVista’s commerce network. AltaVista, which slated its new network to
begin this fall, is majority-owned by CMGI
Inc.
The three-year deal will grant AltaVista’s users access to data from
HealthCentral.com’s nationally-acclaimed medical broadcaster, Dr. Dean Edell.
AltaVista Health will also have a customized health risk assessment,
personal health record and the latest health and wellness news in addition
to an online multimedia library covering more than 6,000 topics.
“The Internet is turning the health industry on its head by empowering
consumers to actively participate in the search for knowledge on health,
medical decisions and preventive care,” said Rod Schrock, AltaVista president and
chief executive officer. “Health Central.com is a strong partner and one of
several new relationships that will serve as content anchors for the
upcoming new AltaVista.”