• by Wayne Friedman , September 7, 2007

CBS has acquired SignStorey Inc., a retail video network that has some 1,400 locations, for $71.5 million in cash.

CBS will rename the company CBS Outernet. SignStorey's long-term deals with retailers include Acme, Albertsons, Jewel, Shaw's, Pathmark, ShopRite and Price Chopper.

The company claims traffic of more than 72 million consumers every month and is in six of the top 10 markets. SignStorey's revenues more than doubled year-over-year in 2006.

The network will look to expand its presence off its airwaves, and said CBS Outernet will seek more retail locations and shopping environments. The CBS move follows a similar one recently made by NBC Universal.

NBCU reached an agreement with Premier Retail Networks in which NBC can sell ads to select marketers on PRN's in-store network, Supermarket Checkout TV--which is available at supermarket checkout counters in more than 1,000 stores, including chains Albertsons and Shop Rite.

Increasingly, TV marketers continue to look for off-air marketing tools to help drive interest to their TV shows, say executives.