Tribune Buys TV Research Site TV by the Numbers, and Relaunches a TV Portal

Do we need more websites about TV shows? We’re getting one anyway — or, at least, a revamped one: Tribune Co. is buying TV ratings site TV By the Numbers, and is using it to relaunch Zap2it.com, a site that’s supposed to help TV watchers find shows they like, and talk about them.

Tribune’s Tribune Digital Ventures arm is buying TV by the Numbers from owner/operators Bill Gorman and Robert Seidman, and says Gorman and Seidman will continue to work on the property. Tribune isn’t disclosing a price.

The idea is that Zap2it, a semi-dormant fan site, will revive and work as two kinds of properties: TV by the Numbers will offer up free ratings data for people who care about that stuff, and the main Zap2it site will work as a fan site/discovery site.

It’s hard to argue that the Web needs more places to discuss TV shows, but it’s reasonable for Tribune to offer one anyway, since the company’s channel guide and TV show info already power lots of other sites.

And while other sites, including CBS’ TV.com, offer the ability to find TV programs online, Zap2it’s results look useful:

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

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