• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, September 30, 2008

Health video company and ad network HealthiNation has raised $7.5 million in Series-B funding, the company said Tuesday. This latest round was led by Intel Capital, and included previous investor MK Capital.

The new funding will support the company's growth in programming, ad sales and operations for its core media network along with new offerings "for health literacy" environments such as employer health programs, hospitals, and health clinics.

HealthiNation's video programs are medically reviewed, and delivered in short episodes designed to entertain as well as educate.

"The entertainment factor is what sets us apart from other publishers in this area," said Raj Amin, president and CEO of HealthiNation. "The biggest challenge now is making sure we have enough inventory to accommodate the advertisers that want to buy our network."

In that vein, HealthiNation also announced the expansion of its online video network through new partnerships with women's health site LifeScript, About.com's UCompare Healthcare, Parade magazine, newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises, and Guideposts magazine.

"Our research shows that readers of Parade and Parade.com are hungry for health-related information," says Allison Werder, SVP of business development at Parade magazine.

These new properties join HealthiNation's existing online partners, including Yahoo Health, U.S. News and World Report, and Answers.com.

HealthiNation's programming presently covers a wide variety of diseases and conditions like diabetes and heart disease, along with everyday health topics like nutrition, first aid, and family health. HealthiNation launched its multi-platform consumer health network in June 2006. This year, its online video network has more than tripled in monthly viewers, according to Amin.

HealthiNation is also available on television through video-on-demand in more than 20 MM homes across the U.S. through partnerships with Comcast Cable, Verizon, Cox Communications, and Charter Communications.

Last year, Intel Capital invested roughly $639 million in 166 deals with approximately 37 percent of funds invested outside the United States.