Fox Interactive (NYSE: NWS), till now managing its own owned-and-operated businesses, is now moving one step outside: it will now be managing websites for 160 Fox-affiliated stations…FIM would take over management of the local TV sites and adapt them to the MyFox platform and branding, something it has already done with its 24 owned Fox stations in 2006. The MyFox platform manages video, news, weather and sports content, along with community blogs, photos and message boards.

The deal does not include some of the biggest owners of Fox affiliates, including Sinclair Broadcast Group, which is still evaluating whether to outsource its Web operations, reports Variety. Managing local TV stations websites is a competitive field, with players such as IBS, WorldNow and Clear Channel’s Inergize Digital Media.

ClickZ: FIM will have access to half of the inventory on local sites, mainly to offer to national advertisers.