Asiacontent, NBC Internet End Venture

NBC Internet Inc. and Asiacontent.com Ltd. said they ended a joint venture aimed at developing Asian versions of NBC Internet’s electronic-commerce and direct-marketing Web sites.

Dissolving the venture will allow NBC Internet to focus on U.S. operations and help Asiacontent.com cut costs, the companies said in a statement carried by PR Newswire. Neither could be reached for comment.

NBC Internet’s shares fell 95% in 2000, and Asiacontent.com plunged 97%. NBC Internet, based in San Francisco, is 39% owned by General Electric Co.’s NBC unit. Hong Kong-based Asiacontent.com has offices in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and India.

NBC Internet shares rose 19 cents Friday to close at $3.50 Asiacontent.com rose 6 cents in U.S. trading to 38 cents. Both trade on Nasdaq.