In its bid to establish itself as a meaningful online company, CBS Interactive has downplayed its traditional strength in local vis-a-vis TV stations, radio stations and outdoor. The company’s just announced acquisition of CNET for $1.8 billion doesn’t necessarily change things. But company officials acknowledge that CNET’s local brands — Urban Baby, a moms site, and Chow, a foodie site — are leveragable assets.

CNET “gives us a platform to add things to … what we can do with integration [of] the local things Urban Baby and Chow, where we have a great deal of local presence on the CBS side,” noted CEO Leslie Moonves, in an interview with paidContent.

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