CBS Corp. has wholly acquired TV Guide Digital to expand its mobile and digital strategy, as well as further enhance the company?s second-screen efforts. 

The acquisition aims to build CBS' mobile portfolio. The company is continually looking at ways to engage consumers no matter what device they are using. 

?TVGuide Digital, which includes TVGuide.com and the TV Guide mobile apps, will join our ?Tech, Games and Lifestyle? group,? said Matthew Hutchison, vice president of corporate communications at CBS Interactive.  

?That group also operates TV.com and other industry-leading sites like CNET, GameSpot, Last.fm, MetroLyrics, CHOW and more,? he said. 

?By offering both TVGuide.com and TV.com, the group is giving fans the most-comprehensive information about the programming they love.?

Building a portfolio
As part of the acquisition, CBS?s portfolio has grown to include TVGuide.com and TV Guide mobile properties. 

Under the terms of the deal, CBS has acquired the remaining 50 percent stake in TV Guide Digital shares from Lionsgate.

Furthermore, TVGuide.com and the TV Guide mobile apps will become part of CBS Interactive's Technology, Games and Lifestyle group, which also operates TV.com, as well as CNET, GameSpot, Last.fm, MetroLyrics, Metacritic and Chow brands.

CBS believes that with this acquision, TVGuide.com, TV Guide mobile and TV.com will give entertainment fans the most-comprehensive information about the programming and shows they love.

?The TV Guide Mobile apps have been extremely strong performers,? Mr. Hutchison said. ?The apps have been downloaded more than 9 million times and they attract more than 2.5 million monthly visitors, which is up more than 100 percent just since September. 

?What's more, 60 percent of the people who use the apps are under the age of 35, which reaffirms the enduring appeal of the TV Guide brand,? he said. 

Over the past years, TV Guide has significantly grown its digital and mobile properties.

The company?s mobile app has been downloaded more than 9 million times and attracts more than 2.5 million average monthly visitors.

Additionally, more than 50 percent of visitors to the site and nearly 60 percent of people who use the apps are under the age of 35.

?TVGuide.com and the TV Guide Mobile apps are the leaders in social television, with the largest and most-engaged/active smartphone and tablet installed base of any TV application,? Mr. Hutchison said.

?Mobile is extremely important to CBS Interactive overall, and our brands are well-represented on the major platforms,? he said. ?CBSi recently introduced the CBS app, which has proven to be a strong performer: In just two months' time, the CBS app has seen more than 2 million downloads.?

Final Take
Rimma Kats is associate editor on Mobile Marketer, New York